






































t ^ ^ ^ " .0 s 0 

“-t ^ ^ 


r^ h' 

^ 0 1 \ ■» 






-x'^ , , g 


ra^sisp ‘> 


"a V 


\ 0 o. 


: M_K“ • ^ 0 - "'*« 

^ -v * 

""' "%C ° '“’ ' V' ' * " ' * ' ' ' ” ' 

' ' -r V ^ 

-V * ^ 'L'^^/R^^\\ 

r» <\v <0 ^ Vy''/A^“^^\\vi C. v^-* 

\ V </> ® ^// /'l^t. <1^ 

— c^ * ^ c ^ A O^'^ 

^ 0 ^ K * » 0 

^ ^ j. .f5j?»,-», - 0 . 

oo^ ° 




4> lV - '- 

^ .'i> V 

V ^ 






0 V 


> .• 0 ^ ^ ^ .a\ . V 



n^ jy . '*'. 


r 

xV 










■"oo"' : 

V^ ^ <#• 

.^ 0 '' '■'o ^ .y n \\^‘' ^ 

^•nV S ^ ^ ^ i) M 0 \ V 

^ CJ C 3 , X 1 


V o 




^ jj. ^ ^ A 

^ y .. . -^ '*> 


A'^• 


i 




x'- 

^s' /\ 'G,, *'» 

^ ^\j c ' ■ V '■j;:^ * * <* ' ' * 4 ; O 

^ ^ Q> <* V ® te/rTT^i:, 

o 0 ^ = ^ ^ ; «: 

G '■'G^ ’’ J" *^' » .T^ 

-* .<i.-‘ c^', ^ C‘ y ' « o;- 

‘ v'' \ V . „, •'">*«• ’\o^ .'' ^ ' 

^ .1 V“ ^ ^ ' -V A^ ^ 

* '* ^ G a'^’ 

y “ V '’ G ^ 'V 

G ^ aV ^ 




A 




q'J^ .. 0 N 0 





I1\\V^ 

✓ 

c» • ✓ 

v^ 


•> V 0 

V C>^ 


'G<. 





X' C) 

/V'‘''*'/s^> 

G. /A ® 


fi 5 » 

-L 

> G.^ A V- 

«• <1 VS^I 






jSNfs ^ Gji -^y '-^ G^ '^'^-c-^-^ ^ 

?Ay>i'>5L ■' MfU/yy^ A ‘c ./> 

f •'p, kV> 



f I ' 



i’H IJ I'* \J ^ 

0 ^ : 

® A ^ ^ 

<#• 

» ^ A. 











I. 


I I 





f 



9 








« 








\ 


9 


I 


* 


9 

' I 


r 










I 

I I 



I 





I 

4 


« 







k 





All eyes watched it describe a graceful arc and 
fall straight through the goal, — a perfect shot. 
{The Girl Scouts at Miss Allen's School) Page 193 



THE GIRL SCOUTS AT 
MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


By EDITH LAVELL 


Author of 

**The Girl Scouts at Camp,'* **The Girl Scouts* Good 
Turn** *‘The Girl Scouts* Canoe Trip** *‘The 
Girl Scouts* Rivals** 



A. L. BURT COMPANY 
Publishers New York 



THE 


GIRL S COUTS SERIES 

A Series of Stories for Girl Scouts 
By EDITH LAVELL 


The Girl Scouts at Miss Allen’s School 
The Girl Scouts at Camp 
The Girl Scouts’ Good Turn 
The Girl Scouts* Canoe Trip 
The Girl Scouts* Rivals 


Copyright, 1922 
By A, L. BURT COMPANY 

THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


Made in “U. <S. A.” 





g)r,I.A659990 


THE GIRL SCOUTS AT 
MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 

CHAPTER I 

OFF FOR BOARDING SCHOOL 

“Secret societies ! Whew ! I’m glad they don’t 
have them at our school.” 

The speaker, a boy of sixteen, perched himself 
upon the porch railing, and swung his legs content- 
edly, as if he had uttered the last word on the sub- 
ject 

The two girls to whom the remark was addressed 
listened eagerly. Ruth Henry, the small, dark-haired 
one, who was obviously no relation of the boy, 
leaned forward. Challenging him with her eyes, 
she asked quickly: 

“What makes you say that. Jack? Have you any 
grounds?” 

The other girl, whose fair hair and straight nose 
resembled the boy strongly enough to identify her 
as his sister, looked impatient. 

3 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘‘He doesn’t know a thing about them,” she said. 

“Now, listen, Marj,” remonstrated Jack in the 
tone one might use to a child, although his sister 
was only two years his junior, “haven’t you ever 
heard dad tell about the awful things some of those 
secret societies did when he was at college? They 
had a house without a single window, and with 
only one door — made of iron — and nobody ever 
knew what went on inside. But dad said one poor 
freshman, who was to be initiated, got rebellious 
and wouldn’t do the stunts; and they blindfolded 
him and threw him into the creek. It was cold, and 
he got pneumonia and died!” 

“Oh, Jack, you’re exaggerating!” exclaimed Mar- 
jorie scornfully. “You read about that in a book 
— you must have forgotten. Anyway, girls’ societies 
wouldn’t do anything like that.” 

But Ruth’s dark eyes were sparkling at the idea 
of adventure and danger. If the truth were told, 
it was because of these very secret societies, or so- 
rorities, as the girls called them, that she had per- 
suaded her mother to let her register among the 
freshmen at Miss Allen’s Boarding School for the 
coming fall. And Marjorie Wilkinson, a more 
timid girl, desired to go simply that she might be 
with Ruth. Both families had at last consented, 
but too late to give the girls a chance to secure a 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


5 


room together. The idea of a strange room-mate 
filled Marjorie with dismay; but to Ruth it meant 
new opportunities for friendship — and a new chance 
to make one of the secret societies. 

A week after the foregoing conversation, the 
girls were on their way to the school. They had 
been satisfied to sit quietly during most of the jour- 
ney, contenting themselves with looking out of the 
window, and dreaming of future popularity and 
happiness. It was only after they were seated in 
the school hack that Marjorie was seized with a sud- 
den pang of homesickness. 

^Tf we only could have roomed together!’’ she 
sighed, clasping Ruth’s hand, and looking away 
from the gathering darkness. ^‘Promise me, Ruth,” 
she said ardently, “whoever your room-mate is, you 
won’t like her better than me I” 

“Jealous!” teased Ruth. “How do I know who 
I’m going to like?” Then, seriously, “Marj, do 
you suppose we’ll be asked to join a sorority?” 

“Maybe you will, but I never would,” answered 
Marjorie. “I can’t make friends quickly enough.” 

At this moment the hack stopped in front of the 
school door. Miss Allen’s Boarding School origi- 
nally started in a beautiful old house which had been 
in her family for generations. She began with about 
fifteen pupils, and only one teacher besides herself. 


6 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Each year she was forced to add a little more to the 
buildings, until now her school accommodated al- 
most a hundred girls. The lovely big trees, wide 
porches, and large grounds made the spot an ideal 
one for a boarding school. At one end of the estate 
there was a small pond where the girls went skating 
in winter, and there were also wonderful little groves 
which could be used for picnics whenever the Prin- 
cipal's permission could be obtained. The swim- 
ming pool, the gymnasium, and the hockey field sup- 
plied ample facilities for the athletic girl to indulge 
her desire for more strenuous sport. 

As Ruth and Marjorie approached, and saw the 
bright lights through the windows, and heard the 
happy girls’ laughter, they felt, indeed, that they had 
reached the place of their dreams. Marjorie’s feel- 
ing of homesickness vanished as Miss Landis, the 
English teacher, came to greet them. 

'^How do you do, girls ?” she said cordially. ‘T’m 
Miss Landis. Will you tell me your names ?” 

^T am Ruth Henry, and this is Marjorie Wilkin- 
son,” replied Ruth. '‘We’re so glad to be here,” 
she added, "after our long ride.” 

"I will take you to your rooms,” said Miss Lan- 
dis, leading the way. 

Marjorie was charmed by Miss Landis’s manner, 
which seemed so cordial and pleasant that she de- 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


7 


cided if everyone at school were like her, it surely 
would be a delightful place. But Ruth’s thoughts 
had taken an entirely different direction. 

'Who are our room-mates?” she asked, as they 
ascended the stairs. 

"Let me think,” said Miss Landis. "It’s hard to 
remember with so many girls, but I helped Miss 
Allen with the lists.” She stopped as they reached 
the second floor. "Oh, yes,” she continued, "you 
room with Ethel Todd — a sophomore. She’s a splen- 
did girl — very popular. You’re lucky! And your 
room-mate,” she turned to Marjorie — "hasn’t come 
yet. She’s a freshman, named Lily Andrews.” 

They walked down the corridor and stopped at 
the room which was to be Ruth’s. In answer to 
Miss Landis’s knock, a pretty girl about sixteen years 
old opened the door, disclosing an attractive in- 
terior with three large windows. Miss Landis in- 
troduced the girls. 

Ethel apologized for the appearance of the room. 

"You see I am just hanging the pictures and 
putting up the curtains,” she said. Turning to Ruth, 
she added, "It will be lovely to have you to help 
me!” 

Ruth’s eyes danced ; already she was fascinated by 
Ethel. 

"Now ril show you to your room,” said Miss 


8 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Landis to Marjorie. ‘Tm sorry there will be no 
room-mate there to welcome you, but then you can 
do that for her when she comes.*’ 

As they went up another flight of stairs, Mar- 
jorie asked: 

“Does she — does Ruth’s room-mate — ^belong to 
any of the sororities?” 

“Yes, she belongs to the sorority,” replied Miss 
Landis. “There’s only one, but we teachers wish 
there weren’t any ; for it takes the girls’ minds from 
their lessons and their athletics, and besides, it 
causes a good deal of unhappiness.” 

“Unhappiness!” repeated Marjorie in astonish- 
ment. “Why, I should think it would be all fun.” 

“It is — for those who belong. But you see only 
sixteen girls — four out of each class — ^are chosen; 
and most of the other girls in the school are miser- 
able because they aren’t asked to join. We’d like 
to abolish it; but some of the prominent Alumnae 
who are members of the Board belong, and as long 
as the girls want it, they won’t hear of doing away 
with it.” 

Miss Landis stopped before a door at the back 
of the building. “Here is your room,” she said. 

As the teacher threw open the door, Marjorie 
experienced a chill of disappointment. In contrast 
to Ruth’s attractive room, hers was dark and small. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


9 


with only one window, and the slanting roof ex- 
tended down over part of the wall. And it was 
very bare — only the bed seemed ready for use. 

‘T’m sorry you’ll be alone,” said Miss Landis, 
‘‘but I’ll come and take you over to Ruth’s room to 
go down to supper with her. I’ll be back in twenty 
minutes.” 

It was all Marjorie could do to keep from crying. 
Mechanically she began to take off her hat and 
coat. 

‘T feel just like poor little Paul Dombey who was 
sent to that dreary school of Doctor Blimber’s — in 
Dickens,” thought Marjorie. “Only, I guess every- 
thing will be all right when I see Ruth again, and 
meet my room-mate.” 

The bell for supper had already rung; in a few 
minutes Miss Landis returned, and they started off 
together for Ruth’s room. There was no answer 
to Miss Landis’s knock at the door. 

“She must have gone down with her room-mate,” 
said Miss Landis. “Never mind; you can come 
with me. I’ll find you a place.” 

The dining-room was brilliantly lighted. Seven 
long tables were placed in various parts of the room. 
The girls, most of them in light summer dresses, 
were crowding in and sitting down anywhere, as 


10 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


the regular seats were not yet assigned. Marjorie 
noticed that one teacher sat at each table. 

“Where would you like to sit?” asked Miss Lan- 
dis. 

Just then Marjorie spied Ruth sitting beside 
Ethel Todd, at the farthest table under the window. 

“I want to sit over there, near the window, with 
Ruth!” 

“I am sorry,” said Miss Landis, “but I wouldn’t 
advise you to sit there without an invitation. All 
those girls belong to OAB, — (Phi Alpha Beta) — the 
sorority — except the freshmen who have been in- 
vited there by them; and you wouldn’t want to sit 
there without an invitation.” 

At that moment Marjorie felt all the bitterness of 
the outcast. “Ruth will make the sorority, and I 
won’t,” she thought. But she gave her attention to 
Miss Landis, who introduced her to some other 
freshmen. 

When supper was over, Marjorie asked some of 
her new friends to her room. They did visit her 
for a few minutes; but they were all tired, and left 
early. Marjorie went to bed without even bother- 
ing to unpack, or to make any attempt to see Ruth. 

“Never run after the sorority girls,” Miss Landis 
had advised, and Marjorie intended to profit by the 
advice. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


11 


CHAPTER II 
Marjorie’s room-mate 

When Marjorie awoke in her bare little room the 
next morning, a feeling of happy anticipation came 
over her. What was it ? Oh, yes, she was away at 
school, and she was to meet her new room-mate 
to-day. 

She jumped out of bed and dressed quickly, so 
that she had time to take a stroll in the garden be- 
fore the breakfast bell rang. She met several of 
the girls she had sat with at supper the night before, 
and they asked her to join their group. 

“Why, there goes Ruth!” exclaimed Marjorie. 
“Funny she didn’t see me!” 

“Ruth who?” asked Ada Mearns, a sophomore. 

“Ruth Henry — ^my best friend from home. She’s 
with some girls I don’t know.” 

“Oh, yes,” said Ada, following the direction of 
Marjorie’s gaze, “those are all OAB girls with her. 
I guess your young friend’s made a hit. Probably 
she’ll be one of the lucky four.” 

“What lucky four?” asked another freshman. 


12 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


**One of the lucky four freshmen to be asked to 
join the sorority!” 

Marjorie bit her lip. ‘T’m not going to be miser- 
able and jealous,” she thought, ‘'only I don't see 
why Ruth has to drop me for her new friends.” 

“My word 1” exclaimed Ada suddenly. “Look at 
this funny package coming up the walk!” 

The girls all looked in the direction Ada indicated 
and saw the strangest-looking girl trudging up the 
path, carrying a suitcase and a hatbox. She was 
short and very fat, and vulgarly overdressed in 
clothes far too old for a girl of her years — a velvet 
coat, gray suede shoes and stockings, and a large 
hat trimmed with ostrich plumes. She seemed hot 
and out of breath. 

When she came abreast of the girls she stopped. 

“Excuse me,” she said, “but will you tell me where 
to go? I'm the new girl who was coming to-day.” 

^'The new girl?” laughed Ada. “Don't you know 
there are several other freshmen — thirty-five to be 
exact ?” 

The stout girl looked as if she were not listening. 
“My name's Lily Andrews — I'm from New York. 
Don't you — any of you know where my room is?” 

Marjorie's face fell. So this was her room-mate ! 
This ill-mannered, over-dressed, unattractive young 
lady, whose whole bearing stamped her as “newly 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 13 

rich I ’ Why should she, Marjorie, have the bad 
luck to draw something like this, when Ruth had 
fallen in with one of the most popular and influen- 
tial girls of the school? 

However, she answered, “Yes, I know where your 
room is, Miss Andrews, for Fm the freshman who is 
to room with you. Fll take you to it. There’s just 
time before the second bell rings.” 

Marjorie took Lily’s suitcase and the two girls 
walked off together. 

“Poor Marjorie !” sighed Ada, “I hope she has the 
good sense to drop her.” 

Lily talked all the way upstairs about the clothes 
she had brought. When they arrived at the room, 
and Marjorie opened the door, she uttered an ex- 
clamation of disgust. 

“What !” she exclaimed, “me, Lily Andrews, have 
to live in a room like this, when my father’s rich 
enough to buy me a suite at the McAIpin?” 

Marjorie tried to explain. “You see the older 
girls choose their rooms, and the freshmen are as- 
signed the ones that are left. It’ll only be for one 
year, then we get our chance to choose.” 

“I’ll never live here for a year ! I couldn’t stand 
it !” 

Marjorie’s hopes rose. 


14 


THE GIRIL SCOUTS 


‘'What are you going to do?'’ she asked. "Go 
back home ?” 

"No, indeed !" said Lily. "And miss all the fun 
I've read so much about? No, I'll just go tell Miss 
Allen I'll pay more, and she'll give me a better room. 
Besides, I want to room with an upper classman 
who already belongs to the secret society, so as I'll 
be asked to join!" 

Marjorie remembered the attractive girls who sat 
under the window the previous night, who were 
members of OAB, and she smiled to herself. Poor 
Lily I She didn't know what was in store for her. 

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you. The rooms 
are all assigned now, and I don't believe Miss Allen 
would make any changes. Hurry up! there's the 
last bell for breakfast !" 

They went into the dining-room together, and 
both girls were conscious of the fact that all eyes 
were turned upon them. Lily thought it was be- 
cause of her expensive clothing; but Marjorie knew 
better, and blushed. 

After classes that afternoon, when Lily and Mar- 
jorie were unpacking their trunks and doing their 
best to arrange their homely little room to make it 
look attractive, Ruth knocked at the door. Mar- 
jorie experienced a joyful surprise as her old friend 
appeared. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


15 


‘T’m so glad to see you, Ruth!” she exclaimed. 
*T want you to meet my room-mate, Miss Andrews. 
This is Miss Henry, Lily.” 

Ruth bowed, and Lily murmured, “Pleased to 
meet you, I’m sure.” 

“Well, how do you like it all by this time?” asked 
Marjorie. “Are you the least bit homesick?” 

“No, indeed!” answered Ruth, enthusiastically. 
“I never was so happy. Pm crazy about my room- 
mate !” 

“She does seem nice,” observed Marjorie. “What 
do you think of the teachers ?” 

“Teachers! — I don’t give them a thought. 
They’re necessary evils !” 

“I think Miss Landis is lovely,” said Marjorie. 
“I like teachers when they’re nice, and not prim old 
maids.” 

Lily was all the while busily unpacking her trunk. 
Suddenly she produced an enormous box, wrapped 
in white paper, and tied with pink ribbon. 

“Father gave me five pounds of chocolates,” she 
remarked, as she untied it, “and he promised to send 
me more when I want them.” 

She passed the candy to the girls. 

“Thank you,” said Marjorie, “but I don’t believe 
I’ll take any. I want to make the hockey team, and 
my brother always said one of the most important 


16 THE GIRL SCOUTS 

things about doing well in athletics is to eat the right 
things/’ 

“The girls’ll think you’re a prig,” said Ruth, nib- 
bling a chocolate. “You won’t get invited to things !” 

“I don’t care !” said Marjorie, “if I only make the 
team !” 

“I’d much rather make the sorority,” sighed Lily. 
“Have you met any of the sorority girls, Miss 
Henry?” 

“Yes,” answered Ruth. “I room with one, and 
she has introduced me to quite a number. They’re 
awfully nice.” 

“I should guess so,” said Lily. “I suppose they’re 
the richest crowd at Miss Allen’s. I’d like to invite 
them all out to my father’s place on Long Island, so 
they can see where I get off!” 

Ruth laughed. “You better not try it,” she said. 
“Let them do the inviting.” 

“What are you going to wear to the Sophomore 
reception?” asked Marjorie suddenly. 

“My pink organdie. What are you ?” 

“My white embroidered voile, I guess.” 

“Will they be fancy enough ?” asked Lily. “I ex- 
pect to wear a blue net and spangled dress — it’s quite 
the thing in New York !” 

At this moment, there was a knock at the door, 
and in answer to Marjorie’s “Come,” three fresh- 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 17 

men, accompanied by Ada Mearns, a sophomore, en- 
tered. 

‘These girls were looking for Miss Henry,” said 
Ada, “and I thought she might be in here.” 

Ruth jumped up joyfully. “Hulloa!” she ex- 
claimed. “Girls, I want you to meet Marjorie Wil- 
kinson, and Lily Andrews — Doris Sands, Evelyn 
Hopkins, and Mae VanHorn.” 

The girls acknowledged the introduction, and 
Marjorie invited them to sit down. 

“No, we simply can’t,” said Doris. “Ruth’s room- 
mate — ^Ethel Todd — ^wants to take our picture; but 
we wouldn’t consent to having it without Ruth !” 

“I’m going, too,” said Lily. “I want some fresh 
air.” 

“Oh, but you’re not dressed,” interposed Ruth, 
“and we can’t keep Ethel waiting. I’m sorry — some 
other time !” 

The four freshmen linked arms, and went out to- 
gether. 

“Those four girls,” said Ada, lowering her voice, 
“are the ones everyone thinks will be invited to join 
OAB.” 

“How can they tell so soon?” asked Lily, with re- 
sentment in her voice. “It isn’t fair ! I think every- 
body ought to have a chance ! I haven’t even met 
any sorority girls.” 


18 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


“Everybody will have a chance, don^t worry. 
They don^t choose their candidates till six weeks 
are over, so they'll be pretty sure to know every- 
body. And, of course, they may change their minds, 
and drop one or all of those girls.’ 

“Fd love to make it,” sighed Lily. 

“Fm not going to bother about it,” said Marjorie. 
“Fm going out for the hockey team.” 

“Good work !” said Ada. “That's the spirit !” 

But Ada could not tell from Marjorie's words how 
bravely she was struggling to hide her feelings. 

“We get our regular places at tables in the dining- 
room to-night,” said Ada. “Fortunately, they don't 
allow any sorority stuff there. The girls are chosen 
by lot from each class — four girls from each, and 
a teacher besides. Then, after Christmas, we draw 
all over again.” 

“I do hope I get with some nice ^rls,” said Lily. 

“Oh, everybody here is nice,” said Ada. “I never 
met lovelier girls.” She got up from the bed, where 
she had been sitting. “I must go,” she said. “Good- 
bye — I’ll see you both at the reception to-morrow 
night, if not before.” 

She hurried out, and Marjorie and Lily resumed 
their unpacking. 


MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


19 


CHAPTER III 

THE SOPHOMORE RECEPTION 

When the four freshmen left Marjorie’s room, 
and walked out of the dormitory to the campus 
where Ethel Todd and Marian Guard, another sopho- 
more members of OAB, were waiting with the cam- 
era, their whole bearing expressed pride, as if they 
wanted to say to the rest of the school, ''We have 
been singled out by the sorority as the four most 
elegible freshmen!” 

Before they reached Ethel and Marian, the former 
called out, "Hurry up, girls! We can’t wait all 
day!” Then, turning to Marian, she said in a low 
voice, "Those girls are entirely too sure of them- 
selves.” As they came closer, she said aloud, "I 
always photograph a group of girls from each class 
to send to mother. But I wish we could get some 
more girls into this picture.” 

Ethel looked away for a minute, as if she were 
thinking. She turned to her room-mate. "Ruth,” 
she said, "who was that girl I met you with yester- 
day?” 


20 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


^'Oh — Marjorie Wilkinson 

‘'Was she tall and pretty?’^ 

“Yes, she’s tall, and I suppose you might call her 
pretty : she has light hair and brown eyes 1” 

“That’s the girl I mean ! Couldn’t you go get her, 
if I wait a couple of minutes?” 

“I don’t believe so; I don’t think she’s dressed.” 

“All right,” said Ethel, “I guess you will make a 
good picture of freshness !” 

“Are we so very green?” asked Doris, neverthe- 
less highly flattered to be teased by so important a 
person as Ethel Todd. 

“Absolutely !” replied Ethel. “Now arrange your- 
selves in a group.” 

She looked into the camera and saw Ruth, partly 
hidden behind Doris. “She wants to be urged to a 
more prominent position,” thought Ethel, “but she’s 
going to get left!” She said nothing and snapped 
the picture. Then turning to Marian, “It’s time to 
dress,” she said; “let’s go in.” 

Ruth joined them; inwardly thanking her stars 
that she roomed with Ethel. 

After they had reached their room, and Marian 
had left them, Ethel said, “To-morrow night I want 
to make it a point to meet this Marjorie Wilkinson. 
Will you ask her to come over and go to the recep- 
tion with us?” 


'AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


21 


“I don’t believe she’d want to ; I think I heard her 
planning to go with her room-mate.” 

“Well, let her bring her along, too.” 

Ruth burst out laughing. “If you’d ever see her 
room-mate!” she exclaimed. “She dresses like a 
Christmas tree, and she’s always talking about her 
father’s money. She’s simply impossible 1” 

“Then I shouldn’t think your friend Marjorie 
would care for her.” 

“Oh, she likes anybody,” said Ruth, anxious to 
dismiss the other girl from the mind of her room- 
mate. “Let’s finish putting up the pictures.” 

“Anyway,” said Ethel, “I want to know Marjorie 
Wilkinson. She looks promising.” 

The sophomores had secured the gymnasium for 
their reception to the freshmen. All the afternoon 
of the following day, the committee was busy with 
the decorations. The girls had gone into the woods 
and returned with their arms full of autumn leaves 
and wild asters. They twined branches through the 
apparatus; they covered the walls with school ban- 
ners; and they pinned orange crepe paper over the 
bright electric bulbs to soften the glare. At quarter 
of six, Frances Wright, the sophomore president, 
surveyed the hall approvingly. 

“You’d never recognize the old gym, would you?^^ 


22 THE GIRL SCOUTS 

she remarked to Ethel, as the girls started toward 
the door. 

The sophomores all ate rather hastily that eve- 
ning, in their anxiety to precede their guests at the 
reception. Shortly after eight, the freshmen began 
to arrive in groups. Ruth, accompanied by her three 
friends — Doris Sands, Evelyn Hopkins, and Mae 
VanHorn, was among the first to appear. 

Marjorie and Lily came very late. Lily had en- 
countered difficulty in dressing — ‘Without mother’s 
maid to help me,” she had explained to her room- 
mate; and Marjorie had patiently waited for her. 
Almost everyone else was there when they finally 
arrived. 

The reception committee had become scattered, 
but Frances Wright noticed the newcomers as they 
entered the room, and went forward to greet them. 

“We’re awfully glad to see you, girls,” she said 
cordially. “Will you forgive me if I ask you your 
names ?” 

“Certainly,” replied Marjorie, graciously comply- 
ing with the president’s request. 

“Marjorie Wilkinson!” she repeated. “Oh, yes, 
I know. “You’re the girl Ethel Todd has been talk- 
ing about.” 

“Ethel Todd! Ruth Henry’s room-mate?” asked 
Marjorie, somewhat surprised. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


23 


‘‘Yes.” 

“But I only met her once 

“Well, you must have made an impression. So 
long as I’m not busy, I’d like to take you both over 
to see Ethel.” 

Ethel, Marian Guard, and Lulu Davids, the other 
sorority sophomores, were standing talking to Ruth 
and her three freshmen friends. Frances walked 
between Lily and Marjorie, holding an arm of each. 
Ethel seemed particularly cordial, and Lily talked 
fast and loud, realizing that their group, including as 
it did, the four €)AB sophomores, must be the center 
of attraction, and the envy of all the other fresh- 
men. 

Just then the musicians struck up a one-step. 
Ethel asked Marjorie immediately for a dance, and 
the two whirled off together. Marian and Lulu 
asked Doris and Mae, and Frances Wright excused 
herself to attend to some other matters. Ruth and 
Evelyn stood watching the dancers, as Lily turned 
to them. 

“My, aren’t these sorority girls swell?” she said. 
“I like them a lot, and I never thought I’d get in 
with them so quick ! But my father said he bet I’d 
wear their pin home Thanksgiving!” 

Ruth looked contemptuous, and Evelyn laughed 
out loud. 


24. 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘‘Let’s dance together,” suggested Ruth, and with- 
out even an apology, they left Lily standing alone. 

At the end of the dance, games were introduced 
to scatter the groups ; and even Ruth found herself, 
in a few moments, far away from her beloved soror- 
ity friends. But they managed to get together again 
for refreshments. When everybody was seated, 
Ethel suddenly asked: 

“Where is Marjorie Wilkinson?” 

“She’s over there with some of her freshmen 
friends,” said Ruth. 

“Fd like to have her with us,” said Ethel. “Ruth, 
will you go over and ask her to join our group?” 

Ruth frowned slightly, but rose obediently to do 
as Ethel requested. She showed rather plainly, 
however, that she did not especially want Marjorie, 
and the latter was quick to recognize her feeling. 

“No, thank you!” said Marjorie. “It’s very kind 
of Miss Todd, but I can’t leave Lily, and the other 
girls I am with.” 

“Fll go,” said Lily, “even if Marjorie doesn’t 
care to!” She rose and slipped her fat arm, cov- 
ered with expensive bracelets, into Ruth’s. “It’s 
such fun !” she exclaimed. 

Ethel expressed her disappointment. “Well, then, 
I am going over to talk to her,” she said. “Don’t 
you want to come with me, Marian ?” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


25 


As both girls rose, Lily announced, ‘T believe I’ll 
change my mind, and go back again, so that I’ll be 
with Marjorie when it’s time to go home.” 

Everyone laughed, as Lily tagged along after the 
two sophomores. Ruth turned to Doris. 

'Tsn’t it too bad, to have all our plans spoiled?” 
she asked. 

^‘You mean about the sorority?” 

‘‘Yes.” She lowered her voice, and Mae and Eve- 
lyn drew their chairs nearer to the others. 

“You see,” continued Ruth, “up till to-night, the 
OAB girls haven’t been paying attention to anybody 
except us four girls; and I felt pretty sure we’d be 
chosen. Now, if they get interested in Marjorie 
Wilkinson, one of us is sure to be left out.” 

“That’s so!” exclaimed Mae. 

“What we ought to do,” announced Ruth, “is all 
stick together — and if they don’t ask all of us, then 
none of us will join!” 

“I don’t approve of that,” pouted Evelyn. “There 
are thirty-five girls in the Freshman Class, and they 
can ask four entirely different girls from any of us. 
I, for one, intend to join if I am asked.” 

“You’re not very loyal!” exclaimed Ruth. 

“How about your loyalty?” snapped Evelyn. 
“Wasn’t Marjorie Wilkinson your friend? And 


26 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


now aren^t you doing your best to work against 
her?^’ 

Ruth did not answer this accusation. The situa- 
tion was relieved by the orchestra starting to play. 

“There’s the music for the last waltz,” said Doris. 
“I guess we might as well dance it together, Ruth.” 

But before the girls got started, Ethel came back 
again. “I want this dance with my room-mate,” 
she said, taking Ruth’s hand. 

Ruth looked up happily, and they started off to- 
gether. 

“And I’m going to take you home,” she said ; “each 
sophomore takes a freshman.” 

As Ruth hurried up the stairs to get her cloak, she 
met Marjorie. “Hasn’t it been wonderful?” she 
whispered. 

“Yes, indeed,” answered Marjorie enthusiasti- 
cally. 

“And Ethel is taking me home!” said Ruth 
triumphantly. “I thought she would want to take 
you, she seemed so struck with you! By the way, 
who is taking you?” she asked. 

“I had the last dance with Frances Wright, and 
she offered to walk over with me.” 

“Phew !” exclaimed Ruth. “The President of the 
Sophomore Class, and a OAB girl besides!” 

“She’s a nice girl,” said Marjorie simply; “and I 
have enjoyed my evening.” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


27 


CHAPTER IV 

THE STOLEN MEETING 

The spirit of rivalry, which had temporarily given 
way to one of courtesy for the night of the sopho- 
more-freshmen reception, returned again with full 
force as soon as the party was over. Although no 
regular hazing was permitted, the sophomores 
usually enjoyed the privilege of ordering the younger 
girls to obey their commands. 

The struggle between the classes lasted only six 
weeks, and might be ended before that time if the 
freshmen succeeded in holding a class meeting within 
that period, and electing a president with due for- 
mality. All the conditions regarding the conduct 
of the meeting were printed in large type and hung 
on the principal Bulletin Boards. 

Ruth, who had always been a ring-leader in affairs 
of this nature, took particular interest in the event. 
She had discussed it many times with Evelyn and 
Mae, but neither she, nor in fact any other members 
of her class, had decided upon any definite action. 

About a week after the sophomore reception, she 


28 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


paused on her way to Marjorie’s room to read the 
notice again. She almost knew it by heart; never- 
theless, she read it over again carefully to see that 
she had missed nothing. It said: 

‘TRESHMEN PLEASE NOTE: 

'The following rules concerning the election of 
a class president must be observed : 

"i. The meeting must be held on the school 
grounds within six weeks’ time after the opening of 
the fall term. 

"2. There must be at least two-thirds of the mem- 
bers of the class present to make the meeting valid. 

“3. A president must be elected by a majority 
vote; at least two candidates must be nominated. 

"4. The sophomores may do all in their wer to 
prevent or break up such a meeting. 

“5. If the freshman class fails to hold said meet- 
ing within the alloted time, a committee of three 
must be sent to the sophomore president to beg on 
bended knees for permission to hold their meet- 
ing. 

Ruth closed her lips tightly, resolving to do some- 
thing — and to do it immediately. She hurried to 
Marjorie’s room. 

'T tell you our class is as slow as molasses !” she 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


29 


exclaimed. “We’ve got to do something about our 
class-meeting.” 

Marjorie fingered her hockey-stick, and looked 
questioningly at her visitor. Her mind was still on 
forward passes, and she did not quite take in what 
she was saying. 

“There’s no hurry, is there?” she asked, without 
much display of interest. “Isn’t there lots of time 
yet ?” 

“I should say not!” answered Ruth, crossly. 
“Two weeks have gone already — we only have four 
more 1” 

“Oh, four weeks is an age! I wish you would 
pay more attention to hockey, Ruth. Our class 
hasn’t any good players at all.” 

“Now listen, Marj, I’m not here to talk about 
hockey. I’m going to do something about electing 
our class president. Who do you think would be 
good?” 

“I don’t know many girls very well. Who do you 
think?” 

^“Why, how about yourself, Marj?” 

Marjorie scorned the idea. “I’d never make it,” 
she said positively. “Besides, hockey takes all my 
time.” 

Ruth hoped that Marjorie might suggest her in 


30 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


return for the compliment, but she was forced to 
leave the room ungratified. 

She received more encouragement from Evelyn, 
however. 

‘T mean to nominate you, Ruth, if we ever get the 
meeting,’^ said her friend. 

'Thanks, Eve — ^then I’ll nominate you!” 

The other girl laughed. "What fun to run against 
each other!” she exclaimed. 

"Of course, it isn’t only the honor of being class 
president, but they say she is always chosen by d>AB. 
They couldn’t afford to let a girl like that go by!” 

Ruth rallied her forces, and finally succeeded in 
passing word around that all the freshmen should 
steal into the assembly room as soon as the lights 
went off the following night, which was Saturday. 

Marjorie and Lily did not pretend to undress, but 
Ruth, in order to deceive Ethel, went to bed as 
usual. Her classmates had advised her not to make 
any attempt to attend the meeting if Ethel seemed at 
all suspicious; they reminded her that eleven girls 
out of the thirty-five freshmen could be absent, and 
that she might be one of that number. 

But Ruth could not force herself to lie still and 
miss everything. She had arranged the meeting; 
she hoped to be nominated for the office; and she 
could not be content to remain away. Accordingly, 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


31 


after the lights were out, and she and Ethel were 
both in bed, she stirred cautiously and looked to see 
whether her room-mate were awake. Unfortu- 
nately, she was. 

‘"Ethel,” she whispered, “Marjorie had a head- 
ache, and I want to take her over some of your 
aspirin pills. I forgot to do it before I got un- 
dressed. Where are they?” 

“In the top drawer,” replied her room-mate, sleep- 
ily. “But, Ruth, it’s against the rules to go off the 
floor after ten.” 

“I know, but — poor Marjorie is suffering!” 

“Well, she could go to the infirmary. The night 
nurse would take care of her.” 

“But I promised, and I mean to stick to it. You 
don’t mind?” 

Ethel watched her go out of the door, and buried 
her head again in her pillow. The night was rather 
chilly, and she was glad she did not have to creep 
around cold corridors. 

Suddenly she sat up in bed. Why was Ruth do- 
ing this? She wasn’t usually so solicitous about 
Marjorie ; she certainly was willing to slight her at 
the reception the previous week! Ethel forgot all 
about the chilliness of the night, and her own sleepi- 
ness. She put on her shoes and stockings, and 
reached for her middy and skirt. Then, seizing a 


32 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


sweater, she rushed up to Frances Wrighfs door 
on the third floor. 

She opened her friend's door cautiously. “Wake 
up, Frances!" she said. “It's Ethel — I think the 
freshmen have something up. Ruth's gone 1" 

Frances jumped out of bed. “Where?" she asked 
excitedly. 

“I don’t know — ^you better blow your whistle!" 

“I daren't at night; it's against the rules." 

Ethel gasped. “Well, then hurry," she said. 

“I'll go look in the class and assembly rooms, and 
you wake up the other squads to search the dormi- 
tories." 

By this time Frances was already dressed, and the 
girls started out together. 

She knocked three times on the sophomores’ doors 
as she passed, thus substituting the night signal in 
place of the whistle she used in the day time. 

The freshmen had chosen an unfortunate place 
for their meeting; it was too obvious; and they 
could not keep down their voices. Ruth was trying 
to count the girls, but since the assembly room was 
almost perfectly dark, she found this a difficult thing 
to do. 

When she had finally ascertained that two-thirds 
of the members of the class were present, she called 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 33 

for order, and announced : “Nominations are in or- 
der !” 

“They are not!” cried Ethel, throwing on the 
switch. 

The freshmen could only gasp at the suddenness 
of the interruption and the light. The spectacle they 
presented, with their hair down, and in their un- 
conventional clothing, contrasted oddly with the 
usual dignity of assembly room audiences. Ethel 
laughed out loud. 

It was only a moment before the light attracted 
a crowd of sophomores, and the meeting had to dis- 
band. Just as the girls were leaving Miss Allen ap- 
peared, demanding an explanation. She ordered all 
the girls back to their rooms, and warned them that 
if a night meeting were ever attempted again, the 
practice would have to be given up. 

At the beginning of the fourth week of school, 
the freshmen made another attempt to hold their 
meeting, and this time, with the help of several of 
the juniors, their attempt was successful. 

Edith Evans, an upper classman, stood out under 
the big tree on the campus and waved a white hand- 
kerchief, which the freshmen interpreted as a sum- 
mons to the library basement, secured for the occa- 
sion. The time for the meeting was selected at an 
hour when the sophomores were on the hockey field. 


34 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Edith Evans counted the freshmen as they entered 
the library ; as soon as there were twenty-four, she 
went inside, and took charge of the nominations. 
Doris Sands, the prettiest, and at the same time one 
of the most popular girls of the class, was already 
elected president, when Ruth and Evelyn arrived on 
the scene. 

‘‘Who were nominated ?” asked the former, 
breathlessly. 

“Doris Sands and Rita Wilds. Of course Doris 
got it,^’ replied the freshman she had questioned. 
“She’d get it, no matter who else was put up.” 

Ruth turned away hastily, for she could not keep 
back the tears. Evelyn saw her disappointment, and 
decided to leave her alone. But before she had 
reached the door, it was flung open, and half a 
dozen sophomores, with their hockey sticks in their 
hands, rushed in. 

“Too late!” cried Edith triumphantly. “The 
freshmen have elected Doris Sands for their presi- 
dent!” 

A groan arose from the defeated girls. Frances 
Wright was the first to put aside the class antago- 
nism, and to remember her manners. 

“Congratulations, Doris!” she said, coming for- 
ward and shaking hands. 

By this time Ruth had control of herself again; 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 35 

she resolved not to let Ethel know that she had ever 
hoped for the office. She found her among the group 
around Doris, and the girls walked back to their 
room together. 

‘T’m not surprised that Doris was elected,” said 
Ethel, as she unlaced her hockey shoes. ‘T always 
thought she would be!” 

‘‘So did I,” agreed Ruth pleasantly. **She’s the 
girl we all jyanted from the first!” 


36 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER V 

THE SORORITY PARTY 

Five weeks of school had gone by — five happy 
weeks, filled with all sorts of new experiences for 
Ruth and Marjorie. Pledge-day, the day to which 
every freshman looked forward, was only one week 
off I 

Although the OAB girls had singled out certain 
individuals as their favorites by inviting them for 
walks and occasional visits to their rooms, they 
had as yet given no formal party for which invi- 
tations had been issued. And, since it was under- 
stood that such a party was an event to be expected, 
almost every girl in the class cherished the hope of 
finding an attractive envelope in her letter box very 
soon. 

As the time for pledging the freshmen drew near, 
Ruth became especially uneasy. Ethel had not paid 
much attention to her lately, and she lived in con- 
stant dread lest she should not be included among 
the guests for the OAB party, — ^an omission which 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


37 


would be a sure indication that she would not be in- 
vited to join the sorority. 

But Marjorie had taken little interest in such af- 
fairs. She became greatly absorbed in athletics ; she 
bent all her energy toward making the hockey team. 

To add to her interest in athletics, she became in- 
fatuated with Miss Phillips, the gym-teacher, a young 
woman just out of college, whose clear, bright eyes 
and pink cheeks radiated health. She seemed, in- 
deed, a living example of the wholesome life she ad- 
vocated. Besides this. Miss Phillips had a charm 
all her own; she inspired the girls with a greater 
love of athletics than they would otherwise have 
had. 

And so Marjorie, after the first two or three days, 
had not given much thought to the sorority ; in fact, 
she had even neglected her chances of making it in 
her zeal for hockey practice. Once or twice Ethel 
Todd had come to her room to ask her to go for a 
walk ; but she had refused because Miss Phillips ex- 
pected her on the hockey field. 

On one of these occasions, after Ethel had left 
the room, Lily looked at Marjorie as if she could not 
understand her action. 

'T wish I had your chances,” she sighed. *l’d 
make the sorority in a minute !” 

‘‘You’d be better off if you made the hockey team,” 


38 THE GIRL SCOUTS 

remarked Marjorie. ^‘You need some good, stiff 
exercise, Lily!’^ 

‘T know you think I^m too fat, but I can^t help 
it. And my father says it’s all right — ^he likes fat 
girls !” 

“You eat too many sweets, and you sit inside too 
much !” 

“I’m always hoping Ethel Todd or Frances 
Wright will come for me to take a walk, and I’d 
hate to miss either of them.” 

“Nonsense 1” exclaimed Marjorie; “if they wanted 
you very badly, they’d make it a point to come when 
you’re here. Don’t bother your head with them! 
Promise me you’ll go out for athletics every day!” 

“Oh, I couldn’t do that 1” Lily protested. 

Marjorie sighed. She turned toward the door, 
and put her hand on the knob. 

“I’m going down to see if we got any mail,” she 
remarked, as she turned it. 

As Marjorie looked through the glass door of 
her post-office box, she saw a tiny, pale-pink envel- 
ope, which appeared very interesting. “It must be 
an invitation!” she thought, as she excitedly tore 
open the paper. 

The OAB Sorority requests the pleasure of 

Miss Marjorie Wilkinson’s presence next Sat- 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


39 


tirday afternoon at two-thirty at the home of 

Mrs. Walter Johnson, 109 Maple Avenue. 

R.S.V.P. to Mrs. Johnson. 

Marjorie wrinkled her brows. '‘What can this 
mean?’’ she muttered. "The sorority must be in- 
viting all of us freshmen, so they can give us a last 
looking over before pledge-day ! .Why, I believe that 
comes next week !” 

As she walked slowly out of the school post-office, 
she met Ruth, entering hastily. 

"Helloa !” greeted Ruth. "Wait a minute, Marj ; 
I’ll walk with you.” 

She found a similar envelope in her box, and 
opened it. She said nothing about its contents to 
Marjorie, but looked happy and mysterious. 

"I suppose you got an invitation for Saturday 
afternoon?” Marjorie asked. 

Ruth opened her mouth in surprise. “Yes; did 
you ?” 

"Yes; I wondered if the OAB girls were inviting 
the whole freshman class.” 

Ruth looked scared. "Oh, it couldn’t be that!” 
she exclaimed. Then suddenly her face brightened. 

"Lily didn’t get an invitation in your letter-box, 
did she ?” 


40 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘‘No,” answered Marjorie, “mine was the only 
letter there.” 

Ruth smiled happily. “Fm so excited, Marj,” she 
said, putting her arm around the other girl’s waist. 
“Wouldn’t it be great if we’d both make it ?” 

“Yes,” said Marjorie doubtfully, as if she saw 
little hope of such a possibility. “Of course you 
will, but I don’t believe I shall. They don’t know 
me. They must have invited more than four girls to 
their party; then they will pick out the ones they 
want and ask them for next week.” 

“Let’s go see if we can find out who else got in- 
vitations,” suggested Ruth. 

Arm in arm the girls walked down the path in 
front of the school. It was a beautiful bright day in 
October, and they both felt very happy — Marjorie 
more so because she was with her old friend Ruth, 
than because she had been invited to the OAB party. 
After they had walked about five minutes, they met 
Evelyn, Doris, and Mae, who stopped to chat. 

“The bids are out!” said Mae excitedly. “Of 
course you got one ?” 

“Yes,” answered Ruth. 

Doris looked embarrassed. In truth, she was 
afraid Marjorie had not, and she did not want to 
hurt her feelings. 

But Ruth continued, “Marjorie and I each got 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


41 


one! I suppose all you girls got them, too?” 

“Yes, yes!” they answered. 

“Isn’t that funny?” said Mae. “Could it be that 
they inten^l to ask five freshmen to join, instead of 
four?” 

“No,” replied Doris, “they have invited more girls 
this week than will get the final bids next week. I 
was just talking to Anna Cane, the new girl who 
arrived here lately from that California seminary, 
and she told me she was invited. Poor girl ! She’s 
awfully innocent ; she doesn’t understand a bit about 
secret societies. They didn’t have any in the board- 
ing-school she came from. I really think we ought to 
coach her !” 

“Let her look out for herself,” said Ruth. “We 
didn’t have anybody to help us, did we ?” 

“No, I guess not,” admitted Doris. 

“It all seems silly!” exclaimed Marjorie. “If I 
ever did get invited to join it. I’d try to change it 
into something with honor attached to it. Why, as 
it is, it’s merely chance, whether you get invited, or 
not.” 

“No, it isn’t!” said Evelyn. “The girls know who 
they want.” 

“Let’s walk,” said Marjorie. “I want to sign up 
an hour’s exercise.” 

“What seems so foolish to me,” she continued. 


42 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘‘is that you daren’t mention it to the girls who are 
in it. Now, if you four girls are asked to join, and 
I’m not, I will never dare talk about the sorority to 
you.” 

“That makes it all the more fun,” said Ruth. 

“Perhaps for those in it. But think of the dozens 
of girls like Lily who are just eating their hearts out 
because they aren’t asked, and never would be.” 

“What kind of society would you have?” asked 
Doris diplomatically. 

“Well, I’d have one that only takes in the all- 
around girl — first she’d have to be excellent in her 
studies; then good in athletics; and finally, gener- 
ally popular. Then, if the society did interesting 
things like take hikes, and study nature and first-aid, 
and maybe go camping in the summer, it would be 
worth-while !” 

Ruth laughed. “I’m glad you aren’t the boss, 
Marj! I guess I wouldn’t have much chance of 
making it.” 

Meeting one or two other freshmen who joined 
the group, the girls dropped the subject. 

Saturday dawned clear and mild. The freshmen 
decided to go together, and met downstairs near 
the big lamp in the hall. Marjorie was the last to 
arrive. 

The girls were all dressed simply and in good 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


43 


taste — in summer dresses and light sweaters. It was 
so warm that no one wore a hat. Marjorie alone 
wore a dark dress, a becoming brown crepe-de-chine, 
which made her look tall and slender. Her hair was 
arranged in a long plait — ^none of the freshmen wore 
theirs up yet — ^and her brown eyes looked especially 
soft and beautiful. 

The six girls were in high spirits. Marjorie, who 
did not expect to be invited to join, and Anna, who 
did not know anything about pledge-day, each 
thought it was lovely to be included; Doris, Ruth, 
Evelyn, and Mae, were each secretly sure of being 
one of the lucky four, but nevertheless were ner- 
vously self-conscious. 

The house where the party was held was dec- 
orated with chrysanthemums and brightly colored 
autumn leaves, and although the day was rather mild, 
a cheerful fire was burning in the fireplace to dispel 
any indication of dampness. Ethel Todd and Fran- 
ces Wright, two of the sophomores, received the girls 
and introduced them to the hostess and the other 
members of the Alumnae who were present. 

There were tables containing miscellaneous games 
for a progressive ‘^Salmigundi,^’ and the victrola 
was playing a waltz. The girls took seats together 
on the sofa in the comer. 

'‘Here!^’ said the hostess, standing before them. 


44 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


“this won't do! You freshmen are the guests of 
honor. Each one of you is to sit at a separate table 
and get acquainted." 

The freshmen scattered; the hostess rang a bell 
and the games began. 

Marjorie sat at a table where the girls speared 
peanuts in a bowl with hatpins. Ruth, at the table 
next, was endeavoring to pick up dried beans with 
two skewers. The games were so ridiculous that 
soon everyone was laughing and feeling at ease. 

After the girls had progressed all around the 
room, the bell was rung and the score cards col- 
lected. Marjorie was surprised to be awarded the 
prize — a beautiful bunch of violets. 

“You certainly are smart," said Ethel, “to get all 
those points." 

“No," said Marjorie, “Fm just lucky! I love 
games. I guess that is why I’m so crazy about ath- 
letics." 

“But maybe the gym teacher has something to do 
with that," teased Ruth. 

After refreshments were served, the girls sang 
some school songs, and a few danced together out 
in the spacious hall. Before they realized it, the 
clock struck half-past five. 

“Oh, I must go !" exclaimed Marjorie. “Lily will 
be wondering what has become of me." 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


45 


*TiIy!” said Ruth contemptuously, ‘‘you don’t 
mean to say you bother with her?” 

“Why, yes, of course; she’s my room-mate.” 

“Such a girl ! I never could be nice to her. No- 
body likes her.” 

The freshmen thanked their hostess for the lovely 
time, and walked back together. 

“Wasn’t it perfect?” exclaimed Marjorie. 

“Oh, I wonder who will be asked to join?” said 
Ruth with a sigh. 

“Join what?” asked Anna. 

Doris explained all about the sorority, and Anna 
listened in amazement. “Well, I’ll never be asked,” 
she said. “They must think I’m terribly fresh, be- 
cause I guess I often asked questions that are ta- 
booed. Would you apologize?” 

“No,” replied Doris, “just wait. I think the girls 
understand.” 

At that moment. Miss Phillips passed, and already 
Marjorie had forgotten sororities in her interest in 
the morrow’s hockey game. 


46 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER VI 

PLEDGE-DAY 

When Marjorie returned from the party, she 
found Lily in tears. 

“YouTe awfully late,” she sobbed, ''and Pve been 
so lonely.” 

"Fm sorry,” said Marjorie, "do you want to hear 
about the party?” 

Lily raised her head from the pillow. "I don’t 
care — if you want to tell me, and it isn’t a secret, or 
anything.” 

Marjorie began to tell about their good time. 
Suddenly she stopped, and looked hastily at her 
watch. "You better hurry and dress, Lily!” she 
advised. "It’s five minutes of six. You’ll be late 
for supper!” 

"I don’t want any — I couldn’t go in the dining- 
room like this ; my eyes are a sight !” 

"Well, I’ll ask if I can bring you some supper up 
here.” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


47 


'‘No — I’m not hungry. I’ve been eating choco- 
lates. Father sent me another five-pound box.” 

"Oh, Lily ! why did you eat them ? Can’t you just 
eat them after meals ? Your digestion will be ruined, 
and besides you’ll never be able to play hockey, or 
swim in the pool.” 

"I don’t want to play hockey or swim!” she ex- 
claimed. "I hate athletics. And I loathe Miss Phil- 
lips. Every time I see her, she says something about 
'chocolate eclairs and cream puffs.’ ” 

Marjorie sighed. The dinner bell sounded. 
"Well, I’ll have to go,” she said. "I’ll tell you more 
about the party after supper.” She paused and un- 
pinned her bunch of violets. "I want you to have 
half,” she said as she divided them. "They were 
the prize — I won them.” 

"Thanks, awfully, Marjorie,” said Lily, smiling 
again. "Don’t leave me long; and, oh, Marjorie, if 
you do make the sorority, promise to help get me 
in it.” 

"I can’t do that, dear. They only take four girls 
from each class, and there wouldn’t be a vacancy un- 
less somebody died or left the seminary.” 

"Then promise me you’ll always be my friend.” 

"If you’ll promise to eat less candy, and go out 
more for athletics,” she answered. 

"I will ; I will, honestly,” said Lily earnestly. 


48 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Marjorie stooped and kissed her. ‘T don’t think 
ril make the sorority, but if I should, it wouldn’t 
make any difference between us,” she said. 

'Tily has improved,” thought Marjorie, as she 
walked down the hall, ‘^but there’s room for a lot 
more. If only she wouldn’t think so much about her- 
self. If girls would go in hard for athletics when 
they’re blue or morbid, they’d soon get over it.” 

At the corner she met Ethel Todd. Just as Ethel 
was about to say something. Miss Phillips hurried 
up to her. 

‘‘Marjorie Wilkinson!” she said, “can you come 
to my table to talk over the hockey team this eve- 
ning?” 

Ethel’s face fell. “Oh, I was just going to invite 
Marjorie to our table — I got Miss Allen’s permis- 
sion. Can’t she go with you some other time ?” 

But Marjorie turned to Ethel, and shook her head. 
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, as she glanced 
again at Miss Phillips. “Thanks awfully, Ethel,” 
she said, “but you see, if I don’t go with Miss Phil- 
lips, it will be too late to discuss the team. And 
besides,” she added, smiling, “it’s such an honor to 
be invited by a teacher!” 

Miss Phillips beamed. “I admire your pluck, 
Marjorie,” she said, after Ethel had gone off. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


49 


“There aren’t many girls who would turn down an 
^AB girl for a teacher!” 

“But I like the teacher better,” she said shyly, as 
she slipped her arm into Miss Phillips’s, and walked 
with her into the dining-room. 

The next day was set aside for the freshman pic- 
nic. Miss Phillips and Miss Landis, the chaperones, 
guided the girls along a winding path which led into 
a deep pine woods. 

“What a wonderful place I” cried Marjorie. 

“Yes,” agreed Miss Phillips enthusiastically, “and 
the beauty of it is that it’s just as nice in winter as 
at any other time, because it is always secluded from 
the wind, and the trees never change.” 

“I am going to make a map of it,” said Marjorie. 
“My brother showed me how the Boy Scouts make 
them.” 

Ruth looked scornful. “Marjorie, you are inter- 
ested in such queer things!” she said. 

Mae was standing beside Ruth. “Girls,” she said 
to Ruth and Marjorie in a low tone, “our crowd is 
over here under the trees — ^we’re going to eat to- 
gether. Will you both come?” 

Marjorie was rather surprised to be included in 
what Mae had designated as “Our crowd,” but she 
was very glad to be with Ruth. They all walked 


50 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


over to the spot indicated by Mae, and found Evelyn, 
Doris, and Anna, untying packages of lunch. 

Ruth became very gay. ^^Girls,” she said, ‘‘I feel 
that we ought to stick together to-day, for this is our 
last chance. To-morrow, of course, is pledge-day — 
and by supper time, we’ll be divided — and two of 
us will be left out of the crowd. So let’s be friends 
as long as we can!” 

‘^Surely you don’t mean that, do you, Ruth?” 
asked Anna. ‘'Why can’t we keep on all being 
friends, even if four of you are pledged to OAB, and 
two of us are not?” 

“Anna certainly is modest!” exclaimed Evelyn. 
“She includes herself amongst those left out.” 

Anna blushed. “I never have expected to make 
the sorority,” she said, “ever since Doris told me 
about it; but I don’t see why I should lose all your 
friendships for that reason.” 

“Of course not,” said Marjorie emphatically. 
“Let’s be sensible. We’re too good friends for that. 
Why, that would mean a sorority girl could have 
only three friends in her own class.” 

“Let’s promise to go on just as we are,” said 
Doris, sweetly, “and if we don’t make it ourselves, 
be glad for the ones that do.” 

“That’s easy for you to say,” snapped Evelyn. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


51 


'‘You’re President of the class, and you know she’s 
always chosen!” 

Mae changed the subject. "Does anyone know 
how they make the bids?” she asked. 

"Yes, I do,” said Ruth. "One of the girls from 
home who went here, told me. You see to-morrow’s 
Saturday, and so, after lunch, if it’s a nice day, the 
girls usually go for a walk in the garden. Of course, 
you don’t have to — ^you can stay in your room if you 
like. Well, anyway, the OAB girls meet in the room 
of one of the senior or junior members at two 
o’clock, and begin to vote. They say sometimes they 
have an awful lot of voting — I guess like the primary 
^ek^ctions my father tells about — because each new 
member has to be elected unanimously, so they often 
vote over and over again. Then, as soon as they 
have decided on the candidates, the four sophomores 
are each sent to get a freshman who has been voted 
in.” 

"My goodness ! How exciting 1” exclaimed Anna. 

"I don’t think, though,” continued Ruth, "that a 
girl usually stays out in the garden unless she either 
is sure of being asked or of not being asked.” 

"What do you mean ?” asked Doris. 

"Well, of course, you, Doris, would go out in the 
garden, because everybody knows you’ll be asked; 
and Lily Andrews, for instance, could go out, be- 


52 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


cause nobody expects her to b« invited ; but all doubt- 
ful people like Marjorie, and Anna, and me — ^why, 
we’d feel humiliated if we were out there and weren’t 
taken. So I for one am going to stay in my room.” 

‘‘Oh, but I want to see the fun,” objected Mar- 
jorie. “And I sha’n’t mind not being invited.” 

“Marjorie Wilkinson!” exclaimed Ruth, “you 
know that is not the truth — you’re just dying to 
write home and say you are an OAB Pledge I” 

“Maybe I am,” admitted Marjorie. 

“Am what ?” inquired Lily, approaching the 
group, in search of her room-mate. 

“Am full 1” laughed Marjorie. “I can’t stuff an- 
other bite.” 

“Sit down, Lily,” said Doris politely. “We want 
to talk over the freshman hockey team.” 

Lily did as she was requested, and the girls chatted 
gaily until Miss Phillips announced that it was time 
to pack up. 

The next day was one of great excitement. 
Thirty-five freshmen girls were eagerly waiting to 
see who would be the lucky four. Naturally every- 
one expected the candidates to be chosen from the 
six who had been invited to the party ; but every girl 
cherished in her heart the hope of a joyful surprise. 
Once, it was whispered, a girl whom no one had 
thought of had been asked. Why not again? 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


53 


Marjorie was secretly excited, but she did not 
admit it. After lunch, instead of walking on the 
campus, she went over to the gym to Miss Phillips’s 
office, where she could watch proceedings out of 
the window, and at the same time, help her favorite 
teacher with some work. 

Ruth went up to her own room and tried to write 
letters. Doris, Mae, and Anna, strolled out in the 
garden, and Evelyn went to the library to read. 
Lily looked in vain for Marjorie, and finally went 
up to her room and sat where she could see the door, 
listening for every step. 

The clock on the library door chimed half-past 
two. Nothing had happened, except that all the 
sorority girls were missing. The groups of girls on 
the campus began to come closer together, to center 
around the side porch. 

The clock chimed quarter of the hour. Still noth- 
ing happened. The girls kept walking closer and 
closer. One or two girls, tired of waiting, went into 
the house. Then, just as the clock struck three, 
Frances Wright, the sophomore President, opened 
the side door and came out on the porch. 

The groups all stopped, breathless. Then they 
tried not to watch, to look unconcerned, and to talk 
naturally, though everybody was pretty sure they 
knew where Frances was headed. Looking straight 


54 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


ahead, she walked down the porch steps, across the 
path, and over to the big elm where Doris, Mae, and 
Anna were sitting on the seat around the tree. 

With only a word from Frances, Doris rose and 
took the arm she extended, and both girls disap- 
peared into the house. 

Everybody drew a deep breath, and began to talk 
excitedly. Anna and Mae were trembling. 

‘‘Let’s join those freshmen over there!” sug- 
gested Anna. “Suppose you were taken — I’d be left 
sitting here alone, and I’d feel so funny!” 

“All right,” agreed Mae ; but before they had put 
their words into action, Marian Guard and Lulu 
Davids, two other sophomore OABs, came out of the 
building and walked directly towards them. They 
went through the same proceeding as Frances, and 
Anna and Mae accompanied them back into the 
house. 

Excitement now ran high. Who was to be the 
fourth girl? Undoubtedly Ruth Henry! Where 
was she? Everybody looked around, but she was 
nowhere to be seen. 

“Of course, she’s in her room,” said one fresh- 
man; “and Ethel Todd’s the only sophomore left, 
so she’ll go there to get her — and we’ll miss seeing 
it. I call that mean !” 

By quarter after three, the crowd became restless. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


55 


and presuming that Ruth had been asked from her 
room, they started to move towards the door. Sud- 
denly it opened, and Ethel Todd appeared. Passing 
the groups almost as if she saw no one, she followed 
the path to the gym. The girls watched her open 
the door, and disappear, and in a minute she reap- 
peared with — Marjorie Wilkinson! 


56 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER VII 

OUTSIDERS 

When quarter after three came and Ethel had not 
come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must 
be something wrong. 

‘Tt may take longer than they expected,” she kept 
telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten 
her attention on the letter she was writing to her 
aunt. 

Then, gradually she became aware of a stir out- 
side the door. The girls were returning in groups. 
She could hear their footsteps and even their voices 
plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to 
hear Ethel’s step in case she should come. 

And then the realization came over her that it was 
all over, and that she had not been asked ! Could it 
be true? Ruth suddenly felt weak. Nothing mat- 
tered now. How would she ever tell the folks at 
home? She had written so much about the girls, 
and the sorority ; she would be ashamed to tell them 
she had lost out. 

At that moment, she heard a group of girls stop 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


57 


in front of the door next to hers, and the freshman 
who lived there, and who had been lying down all 
afternoon with a sick headache, came out into the 
hall. 

‘‘Who were asked Ruth heard her inquire. 

And then she listened to the names — names among 
which hers was not included. Her head positively 
swam, as the other freshman answered, “Doris 
Sands, Anna Cane, Mae VanHorn, and Marjorie 
Wilkinson !” 

Ruth did not listen to the description of the pro- 
ceedings that followed. “Marjorie Wilkinson!” she 
muttered, and buried her face in the sofa pillow, and 
wept. 

In Lily Andrews’ room, a similar scene was taking 
place. She had retired there soon after lunch with 
a magazine and her ever-present box of chocolates, 
and had left the door open and waited. Once or 
twice she had perched herself upon the window sill 
to watch developments in the garden, and at one of 
these times she had witnessed Frances Wright ap- 
proach and claim Doris Sands. Then she had gone 
back to her chair and waited. 

In about fifteen minutes she thought she was re- 
warded. Her heart beat fast as she heard foot- 
steps approach her door and stop; then a knock 
sounded on the half -open door. 


58 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Trembling, she answered, ^'Come!^* 

It was Ethel Todd! 

But Lily’s hopes were to fall as quickly as they 
had arisen. Ethel apologized for the interruption. 

‘T’m sorry to bother you, Lily; but can you tell 
me where to find Marjorie?” 

‘'Yes, she must have gone over to the gym to help 
Miss Phillips make out her records.” 

Ethel thanked her, and went out. Lily, like Ruth, 
wept ; but there was no bitterness in her tears, only 
disappointment. “If I couldn’t make it myself,’^ 
she sobbed, “I’d rather have Marjorie get it than 
any other girl.” 

Meanwhile the four freshmen were taken into the 
senior member’s room, where absolute darkness pre- 
vailed. They were commanded to sit upon the floor, 
and sat down on something very soft, which they 
afterwards discovered to be flour. 

In a hollow voice, one of the Juniors read : 

“Proclamation of the OAB Sorority, October 
30th, 1920 — 

“Be it understood that Doris Sands, Anna Cane, 
Mae VanHorn, and Marjorie Wilkinson are hereby 
pledged as members of the OAB Sorority. They 
must submit themselves to all rules of the sorority, 
and keep everything absolutely secret. If they com- 
ply with these terms, they shall, in three weeks’ time, 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


59 


be initiated as regular members. Will you hereby 
sign your acceptance of these terms?” 

The freshmen were handed a large book ; each girl 
signed, and a seal was made after her name. Then 
they were blindfolded and put through two or three 
initiation stunts. 

By four o’clock, the proceedings were over, and 
refreshments were served. Each girl was presented 
with a tiny silver pledge-pin which she wore on the 
left side of her shirtwaist. 

When all was over, Marjorie went back to her 
room almost dazed. It seemed impossible that she 
could not go tell Ruth about it — why, Ruth hadn’t 
made it — she must be unhappy! And poor Lily! 
Surely she didn’t expect to make it — and yet — well, 
she would do her best to console her. 

She was hardly inside the room, and had just 
noticed Lily lying on her couch in tears, when Mae 
VanHorn ran up to her. 

‘‘Oh, Marjorie,” she said, “do come out for a 
walk with me. I’m simply dying to talk it over with 
somebody. Besides, I have to get away from my 
room-mate (Mae roomed with Evelyn) ; she’s so 
blue I can’t stand her company !” 

Marjorie glanced at Lily. “Thanks, Mae,” she 
said, “but I can’t leave Lily; she’s been alone all 
afternoon.” 


60 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Mae pouted and stood still. 

‘‘Marjorie/* she said, “why couldn*t you and I fix 
it up to room together? Evelyn and Lily might as 
well be together.** 

Lily looked up, frightened. Evelyn Hopkins had 
treated her more rudely than any other girl in the 
school, with the possible exception of Ruth ; so the 
prospect was not a pleasant one for her. 

But Marjorie shook her head. “Thank you, 
Mae,** she said, “but I want to stay with Lily.** 

Lily jumped up. “Marjorie,** she said between her 
sobs, “if you want to room with Mae, you do it — 
1*11 manage somehow !’* 

Marjorie went over and put her arm around her. 

“No, dear,** she said, “I don*t want to room with 
anybody but you. Now, Mae, won’t you sit down?** 

“No; I think I’ll go look for Doris. Good-bye!’* 

“Good-bye!** answered Marjorie. 

“Fm so glad you made it, Marjorie,** said Lily, 
drying her eyes. 

“Thank you, Lily, I really believe you are. And 
it makes it ever so much nicer for me. But I want 
you to know that except for the meetings and par- 
ties, Fm never going to leave you for the sorority 
girls.’* 

They talked for a while, going over the events of 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


61 


the afternoon. Lily started to dress for supper. 
Suddenly turning to Marjorie, she said : 

‘T’ve made a new resolution. From to-day on, 
I give up candy and sweets between meals. And 
I'm going to practice for full-back on the team. Do 
you think there’s any chance of my making it?” 

“Splendid!” exclaimed her room-mate. “Yes, 
there is no one to substitute for Mildred Warren, 
in case she gets sick. And Lily, couldn’t you go out 
‘for swimming? Each class is supposed to have 
six girls on the team; and positively, our class is 
awful !” 

“Yes, I’ll try,” said Lily, “but I don’t believe I 
could ever learn to swim.” 

“Of course you could!” said Marjorie; and the 
two girls linked arms, and went down into the din- 
ing-room together. 

After supper, Lily went over to another fresh- 
man’s room to study French, so Marjorie slipped 
out and went to see Ruth. She found her alone. 

“Hulloa !” said Ruth, unenthusiastically. “Won’t 
you sit down?” 

“Thanks,” said Marjorie, accepting her invitation. 

They discussed lessons and hockey, and finally 
Ruth came to the topic that was uppermost in both 
their minds. 

“How does it feel to be an OAB?” she asked. 


62 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘Tm notr 

“What?^' asked Ruth, excitedly. A vain hope 
that Marjorie had turned down her bid ran through 
her mind. 

“Fm only pledged,” said Marjorie. ‘‘WeVe not 
going to be taken in till just before Thanksgiving. 
Lots of things might happen between then and now.” 

“Have you written home yet?” 

“No, of course not ; there hasn't been time.” 

“I should think you would have written the min- 
ute you got back to your room.” 

“No, there was too much to explain. I never told 
the family much about the sorority, because I didn't 
expect to make it !” 

“I wish I hadn't told them so much,” sighed Ruth. 
“They won't understand why I failed.” 

“To tell you the truth, I don't either, Ruth, — why 
they ever decided on me instead of you or Evel3ni 
is a mystery to me!” 

“It was your indifference, Marjorie. They had 
to run after you. It was a clever stroke on your 
part.” 

Marjorie flushed angrily. “Clever stroke!” she 
exclaimed. “I never thought a thing about it. I 
was too crazy about hockey — and Miss Phillips !” 

“Well, now I suppose you won't care to keep up 
our old friendship,” said Ruth. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


63 


just told Lily, and I’ll tell you — it won’t make 
one bit of difference between my friends and me 
because I belong to the sorority.” 

Ruth drew herself up proudly. ‘‘You needn’t class 
me with Lily Andrews — and go with me out of pity ! 
I won’t stand for that !” 

“Don’t, Ruth! Please! But I do care for Lily 
for her own sake. She’s going to make a dandy 
girl, only her parents have brought her up all wrong. 
When she begins to lose some of her laziness, and 
dress decently, and be interested in something be- 
sides herself and her father’s money — ^why, you’ll 
see that there’s really a lot to Lily. She’s so loyal, 
and so affectionate!” 

“I suppose you’ll be trying to get her into OAB,” 
jeered Ruth. 

“You know I can’t do that. The charter limits 
the membership to four in each class.” 

“I wish I could start a rival club,” observed Ruth. 

“You can’t,” said Marjorie, “because the faculty 
have set their foot down against any more secret 
societies.” 

“I always thought you didn’t approve of them at 
all, Marj !” This was said with a malicious little 
twinkle in her eyes. 

“I hardly think I do, but I can’t tell yet. Wait 


64 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


till weVe been here a year or two, and have had a 
chance to observe things/^ 

Marjorie rose to go. ‘Tt’s time to study,’’ she 
said. ‘T just wanted to run in and see you for a 
little while. Ruth,” she lowered her voice, ^'please 
don’t be discouraged. There’s a great deal more to 
school than being a sorority member!” 

Ruth turned away. *T tell you I don’t want your 
sympathy, Marj.” 

‘T’ll never mention it again,” agreed the other, as 
she stood with her hand on the door. ‘‘And Ruth, 
I’ll look for you at hockey-practice to-morrow! 
Good night!” 

“Good night,” mumbled Ruth. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


65 


CHAPTER VIII 

THE HOCKEJf MATCH 

Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were 
making preparations to return to their homes for 
the Thanksgiving holidays. The whole school, how- 
ever, looked forward to the big hockey match with 
Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the 
last Saturday before vacation. After the game there 
was to be a reception to the teams and to the visi- 
tors from the other school. 

Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for ath- 
letics from the first; it was too late now to try to 
make any position on the hockey team. Now that 
class affairs had quieted down, and there was no 
longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, 
she was forced to lose her place in the foreground 
of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful 
to such an ambitious girl as Ruth. She turned the 
matter over and over in her mind, but she did not 
see what she could do to alter her position. She 
had been too proud to write much about her per- 
sonal feelings to her mother; she preferred to try 
to work out the problem by herself. 


66 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Nor had Marjorie^s expectations been realized; 
she was not so happy after she was pledged to the 
sorority as she had hoped to be. She lived in too 
much of a rush; she seemed to race from hockey- 
practices to teas and cocoa-parties, and to be obliged 
to stay up late at night to finish her lessons. This, 
of course, was not allowed — the lights were turned 
off at ten o’clock — but she lighted three or four 
candles and put a raised umbrella between Lily’s 
cot and the light, and “crammed.” But all her les- 
sons, and especially her Latin, suffered. 

She had been chosen for one of the forwards on 
the school hockey team. Lily, strange to say, had 
been appointed substitute full-back, a position usually 
taken by girls of the heavier type. She had reso- 
lutely kept her word, and had gone in training ever 
since she had made her promise to Marjorie; and 
because full-backs were scarce, and Lily did fairly 
well, and much to her surprise, she had been chosen. 
She had no idea of playing in the game with Miss 
Martin’s, but Miss Phillips had told her to come out 
dressed for action, in case she should be needed. 

Most of the other members of the team were upper 
classmen, and a few of them sorority members. On 
one occasion, during practice, Miss Phillips showed 
herself particularly cross with the sorority girls, 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


67 


for a round of parties had left them tired out, and 
with little energy for practice. 

‘T wish we could abolish that sorority!” she re- 
marked to Miss Landis after the practice. “Mar- 
jorie Wilkinson isn’t the girl she was before she was 
asked. She hasn’t much time for athletics. I don’t 
believe she’ll even go out for the swimming team.” 

“I certainly agree with you about the sorority,” 
replied Miss Landis. “The freshmen couldn’t settle 
down to work on their lessons till after the first six 
weeks of excitement were over, and then it was too 
late. I wish there could be some sort of standard 
mark a girl had to make and keep, to belong to the 
society.” 

“It would be a good plan, but it’s too late to in- 
troduce changes now. The thing will go on forever 
as it is because it can only be changed by a majority 
vote from within, or by the agreement of the whole 
Board. And neither of these will ever give in.” 

“Lily Andrews certainly has improved, hasn’t 
she ?” remarked Miss Landis. “Compare the change 
in her with that in Marjorie! Why, that would be 
the strongest argument anybody could make against 
sororities !” 

The Saturday before the Thanksgiving holidays 
arrived, bright, clear, and cold. Lily was up early. 


68 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


*'Come on, Mar j !” she cried, ‘‘wake up ! It’s the 
day of the game.” 

“Fm so sleepy!” pleaded Marjorie; “let me sleep 
ten minutes more.” 

“But you’ll be late for breakfast ” 

“I don’t care ” 

After five minutes, Lily made another attack. 
The other girl roused herself slowly, and rubbed her 
eyes. “Oh, why did I go to that cocoa-party last 
night at Mae’s ? I know I’ll play a bum game !” 

“I hope not,” said Lily pleasantly. “But you 
ought to follow the advice you are always giving 
me. You’re a regular member of the team, and I’m 
only a substitute. Oh, don’t you hope we beat? I 
know a girl who goes to Miss Martin’s, and I’d feel 
so badly if her school beat us.” 

“I guess we’ll win,” said Marjorie calmly. “Our 
team’s pretty good.” 

When afternoon came the regular team and the 
substitutes met in Miss Phillips’ office for some final 
coaching. The girls themselves were confident of 
success, but the teacher was doubtful. 

The benches down on the field were already filled 
with girls in bright-colored sweaters and fur coats 
and caps. Miss Martin’s girls arrived, — ^not only 
the team, but the whole school — ^and announced 
themselves with a rousing yell for “Miss Allen’s.” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


69 


Miss Phillips brought her team down to the field, and 
the opponents were introdttied. The substitutes sat 
on a special bench reserved for them. 

The whistle blew, and the game began. At first it 
was hotly contested; for several minutes the ball 
stayed near the center of the field. At the end of 
five minutes, Miss Martin’s girls got control of it, 
sent it through the half-back, on past the full-back 
into the goal. There was a great shout from the 
audience. 

The remainder of the half passed without either 
side’s scoring. When Miss Phillips blew the whistle 
for ‘‘time,” the girls stopped, exhausted. And Mil- 
dred Warren, the full-back for whom Lily was to 
substitute, announced that she was played out. 

“I couldn’t play the next half,” she said, “if my 
life depended upon it.” 

So Miss Phillips called Lily to take her place. 

As the girls grouped around her for final instruc- 
tions, the teacher showed by her voice that she was 
vexed. “You’re not getting into it, girls! Mar- 
jorie Wilkinson, you act as if you were half asleep, 
— and Margaret and Elsie,” she said, addressing two 
of the half-backs, “you never should have let that 
ball slip through. Now brace up, and win this 
half!” 

The game started; but with little more promise 


70 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


of success. Finally Marjorie got the ball and started 
down the field. But she was attacked by the op- 
posing forward, who sent the ball flying past Mar- 
jorie and past the half-back. But Lily Andrews was 
on the alert ; with all her might she hit the ball and 
sent it back to her forwards. Everyone clapped. 

yell for Lily Andrews!’’ called the cheer- 
leader; and a hearty one was given. 

But the forward who was playing against Mar- 
jorie on the opposing team was not to be easily 
daunted. She succeeded in getting the ball again, 
and this time she aimed it towards the other side 
of the field from that on which Lily was playing. 
She sent it past the other full-back and into the goal ! 
Miss Martin’s girls rose in a body and cheered and 
cheered for their forward. The score was now 4-0. 

A final chance was given to Miss Allen’s girls to 
score when one of the opposing team made a foul, 
and Marjorie was chosen to make a free shot; but 
either she had been keeping too late hours, or else 
she was too nervous ; for she missed it. The whistle 
blew, and the score remained 4-0. 

The girls shook hands and crowded around Miss 
Phillips. She congratulated Miss Martin’s girls, but 
said nothing to her own team. It was plain to be 
seen that she was disappointed. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


71 


Marjorie and Lily walked together towards the 
gymnasium. 

“You were splendid, Lily!” said Marjorie. “If 
it hadn’t been for you, the score would have been a 
good deal worse than it was.” 

“Thanks,” said Lily, “but that doesn’t make me 
feel better about the defeat.” 

“It was a lot my fault,” admitted Marjorie. “I 
certainly played badly.” 

“You’re not so much interested in athletics now, 
are you?” asked Lily, as the girls entered the door. 

“Yes, I am ; but I simply don’t have enough time 
to do anything well. I’m always helping to get 
some party ready for the sorority, or talking with 
the girls, or going to a meeting or a feed. I wish I 
could do better, though,” she added wistfully; “I 
still love Miss Phillips, and — somehow I’m not as 
good as I am when I feel her influence. Wouldn’t 
you love to be like her when you’re a woman, Lily?” 

“Yes, I would. I’m crazy about her, too. You 
see I know her better now. By the way, did you 
know what we girls do every Friday evening while 
you have sorority meeting? We go up to Miss Phil- 
lips’ room, and take our fancy-work, and she reads 
to us.” 

“That must be lots of fun,” said Marjorie. 
“What sort of books does she read ?” 


72 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


''She has just finished reading us 'Old Chester 
Tales’ by Margaret Deland. It’s great, too! And 
one night she read us a story by O. Henry, and I 
was so interested that I wrote home and asked 
mother to buy me the book. She usually reads a 
poem or two besides, that she thinks we would like.” 

Marjorie thought of the profitless way in which 
the evenings of sorority meetings were spent, and 
sighed ; but she said nothing. 

That evening the freshman pledged became regu- 
lar members and were awarded the little blue-and- 
gold sorority pin, to wear home Thanksgiving. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


73 


CHAPTER IX 
Marjorie’s house-party 

Although Marjorie and Ruth did not visit each 
other during the Thanksgiving holidays, they met 
at the station on the day of their return to school, 
and rode back together. But they seemed to have 
less to talk about than when they first made the 
trip. Ruth was still jealous of Marjorie because 
she had made the sorority, and she made no attempt 
to conceal the fact from the other girl. The con- 
sciousness of her feelings made Marjorie uncom- 
fortable. They tried to keep up the conversation 
with commonplace remarks; but both girls felt re- 
lieved when the journey was over. 

Lily was waiting on the station platform as the 
train pulled into the school town. At this time, she 
presented a very different appearance from that of 
the day when she first arrived at school. Instead of 
an elaborately frizzed coiffure, her hair was parted 
simply on the side, and hung in a long plait down 
her back. And her clothes were more appropriate, 
too; she was dressed neatly in a dark blue Peter 


74 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Thomson, over which she wore a big blue sweater; 
and on her head was a knitted cap to match. In 
this costume, Lily Andrews was far from unat- 
tractive. 

Marjorie and Lily kissed each other affection- 
ately. 

^T’m awfully glad youTe back, Marj 1” Lily said. 

‘‘Yes, I’m glad to be back, too. I surely missed 
all the girls.” 

“It was better for you than for me,” said Lily, “for 
you had Ruth, and nobody from Miss Allen’s lives 
near me.” 

“I don’t count !” exclaimed Ruth, sarcastically. 

Lily looked puzzled, and Marjorie hastily changed 
the subject. 

“I’m glad now that I don’t room with Ruth!’' 
thought Marjorie, as the girls separated to go to 
their rooms. 

The dining-room that night rang with laughter 
and gay chatter. The girls had all had a good time ; 
but they were glad to be back among their school 
friends again. There was so much to tell about 
the vacation that everybody lingered longer at the 
table than was the usual custom. 

Marjorie was the first at her table to ask to be 
excused. She was anxious to see Miss Phillips; 
she had to tell her that it would be impossible for 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


75 


her to go out for swimming. She knew the teacher 
would be disappointed; but she had made up her 
mind. 

She met Miss Phillips in the hall, and after greet- 
ing her somewhat coolly, asked her to come into the 
parlor with her. 

‘T am afraid I can’t go out for the swimming 
team. Miss Phillips,” she said abruptly, after they 
had seated themselves side by side on the sofa. ‘‘I’m 
down in Latin, and if I don’t study hard, I won’t 
pass.” 

“I’m awfully sorry. Can’t you possibly manage 
it? We need girls so much — and you’re a good 
swimmer already. I wouldn’t want you to neglect 
your lessons; but Latin won’t take all your time, 
will it?” 

“No, but you know the sorority takes an awful lot 
of it. I’ve just got to give up something — so I guess 
it will have to be athletics.” 

“Very well,” replied Miss Phillips, rising; “you 
know best.” 

But as the days passed Marjorie often wondered 
whether she really did know best. She realized, in 
a vague sort of way, that she was not so happy as 
she had been when she first came to Miss Allen’s; 
and she was not so healthy either. Her cheeks had 
lost their rosy color, and she was visibly thinner. 


76 THE GIRL SCOUTS 

She seldom saw Miss Phillips now — and she missed 
her. 

When it came time to pick the class swimming 
teams, it was a difficult matter to find enough fresh- 
men to make the required number. In fact, most of 
the girls chosen were beginners. Lily Andrews, who 
had gone religiously to practice every day, made it; 
and, strange to say, Ruth Henry developed a new 
interest in athletics, and proved to be so clever in 
the water that she was immediately chosen captain. 
But the team could not in any way compete with 
those of the upper classes ; in the inter-class tourna- 
ment, it was the first to be defeated. 

Marjorie tried not to take the defeat to heart; 
but she had to tell herself over and over that it was 
not her fault, that it would hardly have done better 
if she had taken part. She tried to dismiss athletics 
and Miss Phillips from her mind, and turn her at- 
tention to other interests. 

She planned a sorority house-party for the Christ- 
mas holidays, and wrote home for her mothePs con- 
sent. When she received her reply, approving the 
idea, she ran over to Doris’s room to announce the 
good news. 

Doris was enthusiastic over the plan. Marjorie 
went into detail in her explanation. 

“You are invited for the Friday before we come 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


77 


back to school/’ she said, *'and stay till Sunday night, 
when we’ll all come back together. I’m just asking 
the freshmen and sophomore members — ^there 
wouldn’t be room for everybody.” 

“I love house-parties!” exclaimed Doris, ‘‘and 
this will be wonderful!” 

‘T hope you will have a good time. We’re going 
to have an informal little dance on Saturday night; 
my brother Jack — ^you know he goes to Episcopal 
Academy — will invite the boys.” 

Together they ran over to Ethel Todd’s room, and 
found her alone. Marjorie was talking excitedly 
about the party when Ruth suddenly opened the door, 
and came in. Stopping in the middle of a sentence, 
she rose, and added, “We must go, Ethel. I just 
wanted to make sure you’d come.” 

“You bet I’ll come, Marj,” answered Ethel; “the 
four o’clock train?” 

“Yes, Jack — ^my brother — ^will meet it with the 
machine.” 

Marjorie and Doris went out, and Ethel turned to 
Ruth with a word of explanation. “Marjorie is in- 
viting the freshmen and sophomore members of our 
sorority to her home for the last week end before 
we come back. Won’t that be delightful?” 

“Charming,” assented Ruth, unenthusiastically. 


78 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Ethel turned away. Why did Ruth always show 
so plainly that she was jealous? 

When the time came for the girls to leave for the 
Christmas holidays, Marjorie succeeded in being ex- 
cused in time to make an early train ; she wanted to 
avoid the necessity of the long ride with Ruth; it 
would be too embarrassing to talk about the house- 
party, and yet she knew Ruth would bring the sub- 
ject up if she had the opportunity. 

For the same reason she managed to keep away 
from Ruth during the holidays. Once or twice the 
girls met at entertainments or social gatherings, but 
they never were alone together. 

The day for the arrival of Marjorie’s guests came, 
and her brother Jack, and his chum, Roger Harris, 
each borrowed his father’s machine, and drove down 
to meet the four o’clock train. Marjorie went with 
Jack. 

'Tsn’t Ruth coming over to meet the girls?” he 
asked as they got into the car. 

‘‘No,” answered Marjorie, without looking up. 

“Why not? I always thought she was your best 
friend.” 

“She’s one of my best friends; but you see she 
doesn’t belong to our sorority, so she’s not invited.” 

“But there’s nothing secret about this house-party, 
is there ?” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


79 


*‘No, but — oh, you wouldn’t understand, Jack — 
it simply wouldn’t do!” 

‘‘Well, she’s coming to the dance, isn’t she?” 

Marjorie frowned. “No 1” she said emphatically, 
“she isn’t coming any of the time.” 

Jack looked disappointed, but said nothing more. 
Ruth had always been a favorite of his, and he 
could not quite imagine a party without her. 

In a minute or two, both machines pulled up to 
the station, and the young people got out, just as 
the whistle of the locomotive was heard around the 
curve beyond. 

Almost before the train stopped, Mae and Doris 
had reached the platform, and Ethel, Marian, and 
Frances were close behind them. Marjorie had not 
expected Anna, who had gone far away for her va- 
cation; but she was surprised to miss Lulu Davids. 

After the girls had kissed each other, and the boys 
had been introduced, Marian hastened to explain the 
other girl’s absence. 

“Lulu took a bad cold yesterday,” she said, “and 
her mother wouldn’t let her come. I guess you’ll 
get a letter from her to-morrow.” 

Marjorie expressed her disappointment, and the 
girls began to get into the machines. Jack and Roger 
both clamored for Doris’s suitcase ; then, remember- 


80 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


ing their manners, they went to the assistance of the 
other girls. 

While the girls were unpacking their suitcases, 
Marjorie outlined the program. 

‘‘After you rest, and dress, we’re going to have 
dinner quietly at home — just mother and dad, and 
Jack and Roger besides us ; then the boys are going 
to take us to the early show at the movies. So we’ll 
get back by nine-thirty, and get into our nighties, 
and have a little something to eat in our rooms, 
and settle down early. To-morrow mother’s going 
to let us sleep as long as we want, and then Jack and 
Roger will drive us over to the cutest little tea-room 
out in the country for lunch. We’ll come back early 
to rest and dress for the dance.” 

“I’m so excited about the dance!” said Mae, her 
eyes sparkling. 

“The only thing about the dance is, we expected 
Lulu, and Jack has invited five other boys besides 
himself and Roger.” 

“That’s much nicer than having too many girls,” 
said Mae. 

“But it’s not so nice as an even number.” 

“Oh, well, we’ll do our best to be entertaining,” 
said Doris. 

“I guess you can easily manage two, Doris,” teased 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


81 


Marjorie, taking great delight in watching the pretty 
girl blush. 

Mrs. Wilkinson soon made the girls feel at home, 
and the party progressed splendidly. Jack and 
Roger, with their constant teasing, never allowed 
things to get slow. They collected half a dozen 
clocks and set the alarms to ring every half hour, 
and hid them in the girls’ rooms before they ar- 
rived; so that early Saturday morning the sleepy 
girls awakened at regular intervals, much to their 
annoyance. By half past seven, they were thor- 
oughly awake, and decided to get up. 

When they were all seated at the breakfast table, 
Mrs. Wilkinson asked casually: 

‘"Ruth will be over for the dance to-night, I sup- 
pose ?” 

Marjorie flushed, and without raising her eyes 
from her plate, she replied, “No, she isn’t coming.” 

“Why not?” asked her mother in surprise. 

“I didn’t invite her.” 

But Mrs. Vyilkinson failed to notice the embar- 
rassment of her daughter and the other girls, and 
persisted with her questions. 

“Couldn’t Jack get enough boys together?” 

“Yes — ^it wasn’t that.” 

At this point Jack interrupted. “I’ve even got an 


82 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


extra one; I invited one for the girl who didn’t 
come.” 

‘Then call Ruth on the telephone,” suggested Mrs. 
Wilkinson. 

Marjorie felt herself growing angry. “But, 
Mother,” she explained, “she isn’t in our sorority.” 

“Nonsense! What difference does that make?” 

But Marjorie did not answer, and her father, see- 
ing her predicament, came to the rescue, and changed 
the subject. 

After the girls had eaten as many hot-cakes, and 
as much “country sausage” as they possibly could, 
they went into the sitting-room to read magazines 
and chat while Roger and Jack went out to the garage 
to look over their cars. 

When they returned, the girls were waiting for 
them. 

“Couldn’t we all go in one car?” asked Frances. 
“It seems a shame to be separated 1 And there are 
only eight of us!” 

But Roger expressed instant disapproval. He was 
counting on having Doris beside him on the front 
seat, and he did not care to sacrifice his plan. 

“Well, maybe it will be better to take both cars,” 
remarked Marjorie. “We’re not big, but our coats 
are!” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 83 

'‘Miss Sands, will you ride with me asked Roger 
boldly. 

"Thank you,’’ said Doris, and she stepped into his 
car. 

The young couple were surprised to see all the 
others climb into Jack’s machine, laughing in high 
good humor at the joke they had played in leaving 
them alone together — a joke, however, which suited 
Roger immensely, and which was not unpleasing to 
Doris. 

The machines started together; Jack, who was 
more familiar with the roads, took the lead. They 
drove along the principal business streets of the 
town, and stopped at one or two of the principal 
shops. Finally, they left the houses and stores 
behind, and, following an unfrequented road, made 
for the open country. They rode for over an hour, 
laughing and chatting gayly. Jack was in his ele- 
ment. 

"I really think your brother likes being the only 
boy among us all,” teased Ethel. 

"How about Roger?” asked Jack. 

"Oh, he doesn’t count — ^he’s in the other machine, 
and besides, he’s completely absorbed with Doris.” 

"Well, I won’t have the distinction long,” he re- 
marked. "The boys will be here to-night.” 


84 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘‘Do tell us about them/^ pleaded Mae. “What 
are their names, and what are they like?” 

“The finest fellow, to my way of thinking, is John 
Hadley. He’s a senior — the oldest of the bunch; 
he’s Captain of the football team, and Senior Pa- 
trol leader of the Boy Scouts — which is one of the 
highest honors a boy can get at Episcopal.” 

“Are you a Boy Scout, Jack?” asked Ethel. 

“No, not yet; but I’m studying for it, and hope 
to make it before the year’s out.” Returning to the 
subject of interest, he continued, “Two other Boy 
Scouts — both juniors — are coming. Russell Hen- 
derson and David Conner — I think you’ll like them, 
too. And the other two boys — Ross Morgan and 
Art Whiteside, are members of my class. Ross is 
funny; can keep you laughing forever. Perhaps he 
isn’t much for looks, but everybody likes him.” 

“Aren’t there any freshmen coming?” asked Mae, 
a trifle disappointed. 

“No, I didn’t ask any; they’re so green, you 
know.” 

The girls laughed at the typical sophomore point 
of view. 

“Are the boys pretty good dancers?” asked Mar- 
jorie. 

“Yes, I think so — all but Ross. He’d probably 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


85 


rather run the victrola, and sit out dances. It would 
be all right if we only had enough girls!’’ 

*'Oh, here’s the tea-room!” cried Marjorie, glad 
of the opportunity to change the subject. “I hope 
Roger and Doris aren’t lost.” 

The other machine drove up in a minute, and the 
young people jumped out. Marjorie led the way. 

'^Are you ready for us, Mrs. King?” she asked, 
as a good-natured looking landlady smilingly ap- 
proached the girls. 

'‘Yes, indeed — there’s your table by the window. 
Miss Marjorie.” 

The little tea-room, with its prettily curtained 
windows, its fireplace, and its shining white paint, 
was exceedingly attractive. The table to which Mrs. 
King had directed the girls was already set with 
dainty china, and a big bowl of pink roses served as 
a center-piece. 

Mrs. Wilkinson had known Mrs. King for many 
years; and believing that the young people would 
enjoy a luncheon by themselves, she had telephoned 
to her to ask her to act as chaperone. 

The luncheon, from the appetizing chicken soup 
to the French pastry dessert, was delicious and 
dainty; the service was good; and the party was 
in high spirits. After it was over, Mrs. King in- 
vited the young people to sing some school songs 


86 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


around the open fireplace. It was almost three 
o’clock when Marjorie rose to go. 

“If this were the end of it all,” said Ethel, as she 
climbed into the machine, “I would vote it the best 
time I ever had in my life.” 

“And the best is yet to come,” said Frances, her 
eyes sparkling with anticipation. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


87 


CHAPTER X 

THE DANCE 

As soon as the girls reached home, they went 
to their rooms and substituted kimonas for their 
street clothes, preparing to rest before dinner. But 
though one or two of the number expressed the de- 
sire for a nap, the others would not keep quiet long 
enough for them to fall asleep. Ethel was attempt- 
ing to comb her hair at Marjorie’s dressing table, 
and Frances was manicuring her nails; all the other 
girls were stretched lazily on the beds of one or the 
other of the communicating rooms. 

“Isn’t it the grandest thing in the world to belong 
to OAB and go on parties like this?” observed Fran- 
ces. 

“It is fun to be together,” said Marjorie slowly; 
“but we could do that just the same if we didn’t 
belong to the sorority !” 

“Oh, but we wouldn’t be likely to. The other 
girls at school don’t have them much. I guess it 
would be too hard to know where to draw the line, 
without hurting some girl’s feelings !” 


88 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘‘And don’t you suppose we ever hurt anybody’s 
feelings by being exclusive?” asked Marjorie, bit- 
terly. 

“I don’t believe girls like Lily feel hurt ; they know 
they’re out of it.” 

“I wasn’t thinking of Lily,” said Marjorie, as she 
left the room. 

“I wonder if Marjorie’s worrying about Ruth!” 
remarked Doris, thinking of the conversation at the 
breakfast table. “In a way, it does seem too bad.” 

“Well, she’s foolish if she worries over her!” ex- 
claimed Ethel; “for Ruth never troubles herself 
about Marjorie. She’s awfully selfish!” 

“And yet I wonder whether we wouldn’t feel re- 
sentful if we were in her position,” said Frances. 
“It’s terribly hard for the girls who almost make the 
sorority.” 

Marjorie came back with the dress she was to 
wear that evening, and the girls hastily changed the 
subject. 

“How lovely!” exclaimed Doris, looking admir- 
ingly at the lemon-colored georgette Marjorie was 
holding on a hanger. 

“Marj, why did you insist that we all wear differ- 
ent-colored dance dresses?” asked Mae. 

Her hostess laughed gaily. “It’s a secret,” she 
said. “You’ll find out to-night!” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


89 


“But I want to know now !” 

“Let’s all get out our dresses, and see if we really 
did strike different colors,” suggested Marian. 

“I hope they harmonize,” said Frances. 

The soft pastel shades of the six dresses did blend 
beautifully together. Lavendar, green, yellow, pink, 
blue, and white had been selected. They were not 
elaborately made; perhaps Doris’s was the fanciest; 
but it was white, and could afford, therefore, to have 
more trimming. 

“It reminds me of a rainbow wedding,” said Ma- 
rian. “Did you ever see one, where each brides- 
maid wears a different-colored dress?” 

“And the bride wears white!” laughed Marjorie, 
with a significant look at Doris. 

A knock at the door drew the attention away from 
Doris, but only for a moment; for the box which 
Maggie, Mrs. Wilkinson’s second maid, handed to 
Marjorie was directed to her. 

“Flowers for the bride!” announced Marjorie 
solemnly. 

Doris opened the box, and found a bunch of vio- 
lets. 

“Who could have sent them ?” teased Ethel. 

Doris glanced at the card, and hastily slipped it 
into her suitcase. As soon as she was dressed she 
pinned the flowers through her sash, and followed 


90 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


the others to the dining-room. But to her great re- 
lief, Roger was not present at supper; he had gone 
home to dress. 

Shortly after eight o’clock, the boys all arrived 
together. Jack received them and presented them to 
the girls. After everyone had been given a program, 
Marjorie announced her plan for the first dance. 

‘‘Since nobody knows anybody else,” she said, “I 
made a little game for finding partners for the first 
dance. The girls, as you see, all have on different- 
colored dresses. Now there is a candy pillow hid- 
den somewhere in this room to match each dress. 
The boys hunt for them, and then go to claim their 
partners. 

“Of course,” she continued, “you know that we 
are very much disappointed because one girl we had 
expected didn’t come. So, besides the six candy pil- 
lows, I have hidden a licorice taffy. Whoever finds 
the taffy has to be content to eat it instead of danc- 
ing the first dance! 

“Now get to work and find them!” 

The boys searched diligently. Roger came across 
a green pillow, but seeing that no one was looking, 
he instantly hid it again in order to look further for 
a white one. Then he saw Jack with the white pil- 
low, and gave up his chances of securing Doris. He 
returned to the hiding place of the green one, but 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


91 


found that it had already been captured, and David 
Conner was claiming Mae for the dance. In a min- 
ute or two he found the licorice taffy, and hunted 
Mr. Wilkinson, to spend the time with him at the 
victrola. 

John Hadley was delighted to claim Marjorie. 
He had singled her out as the most interesting girl 
at the dance. And she certainly did look attractive 
in her simple party dress. 

‘T feel very much honored,” said John, “to have 
the first dance with the hostess.” 

As they danced, he asked her all sorts of questions 
about the school, and the girls, and even the sorority. 
When she described the methods of the latter, he 
wrinkled his brows. 

“Doesn’t that cause a good deal of unhappiness ?” 
he asked. 

“Perhaps — ^at first ; but I guess the girls who aren’t 
taken in soon get over it. Don’t you have fraterni- 
ties at Episcopal ?” 

“No; we only have a Boy Scout troop; and all the 
money, and pull, and even popularity, in the world 
can’t get you into that. It’s simply a question of 
hard work.” 

“And what do you do?” asked the girl eagerly. 

John started to tell of some of the troop’s activi- 


92 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


ties, but before he had gone very far, the dance was 
over. 

‘Tromise me the intermission and the last waltz?’' 
he asked. 

“All right,” agreed Marjorie, “if you’ll excuse me 
now to look after things.” 

She had Jack announce that the next dance would 
be a Paul Jones, and that after that, the boys might 
fill their programs according to the girls’ wishes. 
He also said that during the intermission, when re- 
freshments were served, he would be the “extra 
man” — without a partner — as he was needed to help ; 
so the fellows could go ahead and get their pro- 
grams filled. 

When everyone was served, Marjorie turned to 
John and asked more about the scouts. She was 
fascinated by the accounts of their activities; and 
John — big, handsome John Hadley, the most popu- 
lar fellow at Episcopal — was fascinated by this slip 
of a freshman. 

“I tell you,” he suggested ; “why don’t you start 
Girl Scouts at your school?” 

“I’d love to,” said Marjorie, “but I don’t have time 
now for the regular things at school because OAB 
keeps me so busy!” 

John persuaded Marjorie to give him an extra 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


93 


dance in the second half, and when she saw how 
happy her guests seemed to be, she agreed. 

Mrs. Wilkinson had set the time limit of the 
dancing at half -past eleven; so before twelve o’clock, 
the boys had all gone, and the girls were starting up 
for bed. 

‘Tf they’d only let us have callers at Miss Allen’s !” 
sighed Doris, so woefully that everybody laughed out 
loud. 

“They do, when you’re a senior, Doris!” said 
Ethel, “so cheer up — ^you’ve only three years to wait, 
and surely Roger’s love won’t grow cold in that 
time I” 

Doris smiled and put her violets in water. 

“Well, it’s been the loveliest time I’ve ever had I” 
said Frances; “oh, Marjorie, I’m so happy!” 

“So am I” — “So am I,” cried the others. 

“I guess everybody was happy to-night, Marj ; it’s 
been such a perfect party !” said Doris. 

But one person was unhappy that evening; one 
girl passed the gaily lighted house and looked in from 
the outside ; one girl thought of the sorority she had 
missed making, and the friend she had lost — and 
in it all Ruth Henry blamed not herself, but Mar- 
jorie. 


94 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER XI 

THE GIRL SCOUT TROOP 

Ruth had no desire to ride back to school on the 
same train with the sorority girls, so she decided to 
wait over until Monday morning. Besides, she had 
an important letter to write on Sunday evening, and 
she needed the quiet of her own room to compose 
her thoughts. As she sat at the window, she saw 
Wilkinsons’ machine, filled with the joyful members 
of the house-party, pass in the street below. But 
Ruth was no longer envious; if her scheme worked 
— as she felt it must — ^the tables would be turned; 
Marjorie and her friends would be begging favors 
of her ! 

A letter and a package in her post-office box on 
Wednesday came in prompt reply to her letter of 
Sunday. She broke the seal in breathless haste. 
Its contents seemed to come up to her expectations, 
for she smiled brightly, and literally ran to Evelyn’s 
room. 

‘T’ve a grand new plan!” she exclaimed enthus- 
iastically, after she had opened her friend’s door 
without knocking. ^‘A rival for OAB 1” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


95 


“No!” cried Evelyn, dropping the book she was 
reading. ‘Tt isn’t possible to start another sorority, 
is it?” 

“Almost as good,” answered Ruth, holding out her 
letter. ‘‘A Girl Scout Troop! My cousin tells me 
all about it ; here, read this !” 

The other girl took the letter and read the details 
concerning the organization of a troop. It did sound 
very interesting. The letter closed by stating that 
a handbook would follow. 

Ruth was already untying the string of the pack- 
age. The girls sat down side by side on the couch, 
and turned the pages together. 

“Do you suppose anybody can belong?” asked Eve- 
lyn doubtfully. 

“Yes, it seems to say so — any girl over ten years 
old!” 

“But what’s the fun then? If Lily Andrews, and 
just any old girl can belong, who wants to be a Girl 
Scout ?” 

“Don’t you know Lily Andrews is quite popular 
now?” Ruth laughed sarcastically. It seemed im- 
possible that such a girl could really stand higher 
among her class-mates than she did herself. 

After a minute or two, she said, “I guess we won’t 
have to take anybody we don’t want ; our troop’ll be 
different.” 


96 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘T’ll bet Miss Allen won’t let you start anything 
secret!” said Evelyn. 

Ruth stood up. ‘T believe I’ll go see her right 
away,” she announced, '*and talk it all over with 
her.” 

Miss Allen received her graciously, and carefully 
examined the book. 

‘T would have to look more closely into it,” she 
said. ‘‘And I think I’ll consult Miss Phillips. I 
have always heard that the Girl Scouts is an organi- 
zation along athletic lines.” 

Ruth was not a favorite with Miss Phillips. She 
frowned. “Oh, don’t let’s have any teachers in it! 
Except you,” she added diplomatically. 

“But you have to have a Captain — a woman over 
twenty-one. And I see each troop has thirty-two 
members, but there are ninety-five girls in the school 
— ^how would you decide who was to belong?” 

“Why, that’s easy — I started it, so Evelyn and 
two or three more of our friends would vote on the 
new members.” 

Miss Allen smiled. “You want another sorority, 
Ruth,” she said. “And that you can’t have. But 
this Girl Scout idea appeals to me. I’ll think it over, 
and let you know.” 

Miss Allen and Miss Phillips spent the evening in 
going over the handbook. They were delighted with 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


97 


its contents ; the Girl Scout movement seem,ed to be 
just the thing the school needed. 

‘Tt is my idea,” said Miss Phillips, start the 
troop with only such girls as have 8o% or over in 
their lessons, and are at the same time members or 
substitutes on one of the school teams. This will 
give the organization a high standard at the outset, 
and besides, I think it will make both lessons and 
athletics more popular. Then, if a girl drops in 
either, she can be temporarily deprived of the 
Troop’s good times!” 

‘^Splendid!” exclaimed Miss Allen; ‘‘but do you 
think more than thirty-two girls in the school will 
qualify?” 

“If they do, we can start two troops. I guess you 
can easily find two teachers to act as Captains.” 

“I think the girls ought to be allowed to elect 
their own Captain, don’t you?” asked Miss Allen; 
and Miss Phillips nodded her approval. “They will 
have to meet on Friday evenings, of course,” she 
continued. “But what about the sorority?” 

“I don’t think a girl should be allowed to belong 
to both <[)AB and the Girl Scouts,” said Miss 
Phillips emphatically. “For one evening in a week 
is all that can be spared !” 

The next night, when dessert was being served. 
Miss Allen rose from her seat at the front of the 


98 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


room. The girls instantly becanxe quiet, and turned 
attentively to listen to what she had to say. 

‘‘Girls,” she announced in her usual quiet tone, 
“we have decided, if you are in favor, to start a 
Girl Scout troop here. It was Ruth Henry’s idea, 
and after careful consideration of the matter, we 
have found the organization to be splendid. The 
members will wear a uniform, meet once a week, 
and on Saturdays take hikes and boat-trips ; and per- 
haps this summer go camping. 

“There will be lots for a Girl Scout to learn — 
first-aid, out-door cooking, horsemanship — in fact, 
almost anything you are interested in.” 

She paused for a moment, and the girls signified 
their approval by breaking into a hearty applause. 
Ruth looked important, as if to take the credit of it 
all to herself. 

Miss Allen continued : “We have decided to make 
both scholarship and athletic ability the qualifications 
for membership. Any girl who wishes to belong 
must have at least 8o% in all her studies, and must 
be a member or a substitute on some school team. 
And if there are more than thirty-two girls eligible, 
we will start two troops.” 

The girls were surprised at Miss Allen’s remarks, 
and many of their faces registered disappointment. 
Frances Wright rose from her seat. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


99 


“Well, Frances?” asked the Principal. 

“Miss Allen, when will the Girl Scouts meet ?” 

“Friday evening.” 

Frances looked astonished. “How about the so- 
rority ?” she asked. 

“No girl can belong to both the Girl Scouts and 
the sorority,” Miss Allen replied significantly. “It 
would take too much of her time. She must choose 
between them!” 

Since there were no other questions. Miss Allen 
took her seat, and for the rest of the meal, the din- 
ing-room buzzed with the excited voices of the girls, 
discussing the new proposition. 

After supper Ruth made her way to Marjorie’s 
room. 

“What do you think of it?” she asked Marjorie. 

“It’s wonderful I” the other girl exclaimed. 

“Would you rather belong to it than O AB ?” 

“I almost believe I would. It sounds so much 
more worth while. To tell you the truth, Ruth, 
aside from the excitement of being asked, it isn’t 
much of an honor to belong to OAB I” 

Ruth looked triumphant. “I knew I’d make you 
girls see you weren’t so much!” 

“I never said we were !” 

“Well, you acted it. How about the house-party 
at Christmas?” 


100 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘^Oh, Ruth — I am sorry about it !” 

‘^Yes, you are ! I’d just like to keep you oui of 
the Girl Scouts to pay you back !” 

It was then that the door opened and Lily An- 
drews came in, with a book in her hands, reading as 
she entered. 

‘‘What has happened to you, Lily?” asked Ruth. 
“Turned dippy-stude ?” 

“No, only I do want to make the Girl Scouts, and 
I’m almost afraid my lessons won’t let me !” 

“Good work!” said Ruth, as she produced her 
handbook, and began to read the Tenderfoot test 
questions aloud. 

The next night was sorority meeting, and the 
members went prepared for a fight. After the busi- 
ness was over, the senior president opened the dis- 
cussion. 

“It would be a shame,” she said, “for OAB to al- 
low a passing fancy like the Girl Scout troop to 
shake it. We have been here a long time. We stand 
for the oldest traditions of the school. We must 
think carefully of all the Alumnae before we make 
any move.” 

Several other girls spoke along the same line. Fi- 
nally, Marjorie stood up. 

“Girls,” she said, “I have been thinking about it 
seriously and I have decided I would rather be a 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


101 


Girl Scout. We meet here Friday after Friday, and 
do nothing but have a silly business meeting, chat, 
and drink cocoa. And when we ought to be study- 
ing or practicing for some team, we are going to a 
feed. We never learn anything new. We have 
friends, but we are not supposed to make any close 
ones outside our own set. And once a year, we make 
the whole freshman class — except four girls — ^miser- 
ably unhappy. So Fve decided to hand in my resig- 
nation to the sorority.” 

Everybody was quiet for a moment. Ethel Todd 
was the first to speak. 

*‘Vm so sorry, Marjorie!” she said. 

Tears came to Doris’s eyes. ‘Tt won’t be the same 
without you, Marj,” she said. “Please don’t do it!” 

“Besides,” said Mae, “hadn’t you better wait till 
you’re asked to join the Girl Scouts?” 

Marjorie laughed. “Well, if I’m not asked, it will 
be because I’m down in my lessons — and I’ll never 
get up in them as long as I belong to OAB !” 

“Marjorie’s right,” said Frances. “And this fall, 
when I saw Evelyn and Ruth almost breaking their 
hearts over not being asked, I just felt as if I couldn’t 
go through the pledging another year. I hand in 
my resignation, too.” 

After some hesitation, and some more discussion. 


102 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Lulu decided to follow suit, and two of the Juniors 
joined the ranks. 

‘Whatever will we do?^’ asked Mae, “elect new 
members ?’’ 

“We’re not allowed to,” replied the president. 
“Vacancies can only be filled once a year — six weeks 
after school starts. We’ll have to go on as we are. 
But if more than eight girls resign, the sorority must 
be abolished. We have to keep eight girls to allow 
it to exist. Oh, girls,” she pleaded, “don’t follow 
the impulse. Wait ! Think of the Alumnae ! Think 
if you ever had a daughter and sent her here, she 
would stand a good chance of belonging.” 

“And she might be left out like poor Virginia 
Hall, whose mother was an OAB !” 

Marian Guard laughed. “You know Virginia is 
impossible!” she exclaimed. 

Doris had been thinking hard. “Girls,” she said, 
“I don’t want to be mean, and you know I’m not ath- 
letic, so I probably won’t make the troop ; but I think 
the sorority ought to be abolished, and now is the 
best .time to do it. So I, too, resign.” 

“Oh, Doris — you’re president of the freshman 
class!” exclaimed one of the seniors. 

“Yes, and for that reason more than any other, I 
want to do away with OAB !” 

The senior president intervened. “Girls, that 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


103 


makes six resignations. But let’s don’t take them as 
final. We’ll wait till next week, and give everybody 
the chance to think it over. 

Marjorie made one request. “May Miss Phillips 
be invited to come in next week after the business 
part is over?” 

The president frowned; but several of the girls 
seemed to want it, so she finally consented. 

“And remember, girls,” she said, “this must be 
kept secret until at least next week. You are still 
members of OAB. Promise!” 

“We promise,” murmured Frances and Marjorie, 
and two or three others; and the girls adjourned. 


104 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER XII 

THE BOY scouts' DEMONSTRATION 

During the next few days, the excitement which 
usually preceded pledge-day was felt over the school, 
and in this instance, it was even more intense; for 
almost every girl at Miss Allen's felt that she had a 
chance to become a Girl Scout, — if not right away, 
at least at some future date. Ruth had sent for more 
handbooks; the copies went the rounds, and were 
read and re-read. The uniform proved to be a con- 
stant topic of interest, and more than one girl wrote 
home to ask for the money to buy it, in case she was 
chosen. 

Miss Landis noticed a decided improvement in the 
girls’ lessons, and remarked about it to Miss Allen. 
Miss Phillips, too, appreciated the added zeal with 
which the girls attended unrequired practices. 

At last Ruth was happy. She had started some- 
thing worth while ; no doubt the whole student body, 
as well as the teachers, would look to her constantly 
as a benefactor. She realized, too, that she had 
dealt the most decided blow to the sorority that it 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


105 


had ever received. She dreamed of its annihilation, 
and pictured herself always as the leader of its more 
popular successor. 

Marjorie, too, was happy. For weeks she had felt 
a sort of unrest, as if she were standing still while 
the rest of the world progressed. Lily’s accounts of 
the Friday evenings in Miss Phillips’s room had 
deepened this feeling. But now that she had made 
her decision, the outlook before her seemed brighter. 

On Wednesday evening, during dinner, it was 
whispered that Miss Allen was going to read the list 
of candidates for the troop very soon; and one of 
the seniors told Ruth that she had seen her carry a 
paper into the dining-room. 

The girl was correct in her supposition; for as 
soon as dessert had been served. Miss Allen rose 
from her chair. The girls stopped eating, and waited 
in breathless attention. 

‘'First of all,” she began, 'T want to tell you that 
on Friday evening the Senior Patrol of the Boy 
Scouts from Episcopal Academy are coming over to 
give us a demonstration of Scouting. We will hold 
the meeting in the assembly room, and everybody is 
invited. But only the candidates whose names I read 
will be invited over to the gymnasium afterwards to 
serve refreshments with Miss Phillips.” 


106 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


She paused for a moment, and the girls clapped 
in approval. 

‘T am sorry the list of candidates is so small, she 
continued; *^but you see we decided on such strict 
qualifications, there were only seven girls eligible. 
But this was partly due to the fact that the school 
swimming team hasn’t been made up yet — class teams 
don’t count — and we had only the hockey members 
to select from. And, of course, many of those girls 
were down in their studies. But Miss Phillips hopes 
to pick the swimming team soon, so we shall have 
more girls to choose from.” 

Miss Allen put on her glasses, and reached for a 
paper on the table. Without further explanation, 
she read out the names — 

‘‘Senior Class — Dorothy Maxwell. 

“Junior Class — Edith Evans, Helen Stewart. 

“Sophomore Class — Frances Wright, Ethel Todd, 
Marian Guard. 

“Freshman Class — Lily Andrews.” 

Miss Allen sat down. For a minute the girls could 
only gasp; then the room buzzed with animated 
voices. 

Ruth turned to the senior next to her. “There 
must be some mistake,” she said. “Why, I started 
the whole thing !” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


107 


‘‘You aren^t on the school hockey team, are you?” 
asked the other girl. 

“No, that’s so,” admitted Ruth; “I guess I was 
counting on the class swimming team. But, believe 
me, ril make the school swimming team, you just 
see!” 

Unlike Ruth, Marjorie said nothing about her 
disappointment. But she was surprised that her 
name was not on the list; for being a hockey team 
member, she had expected to be a candidate. “They 
have Girl Scouts, and I am not one !” she said over 
and over to herself. “Maybe L ought to have stayed 
in OAB,” she thought. “It isn’t too late yet.” 

But Marjorie was not a girl to go back on her 
word; she had resigned, though they had not ac- 
cepted her resignation, and she would abide by her 
decision. It must have been her Latin that kept 
her out, she concluded, and she resolved to work 
harder in that branch in the future. 

After supper, Ruth came over to Marjorie’s room 
and found her congratulating Lily. 

“I don’t know how I ever did it,” said Lily. “But 
I’m so glad — if only Miss Phillips is our Captain. 
Do you think she will be?” 

“You are allowed to elect whoever you want,” 
said Ruth. “And I guess it will be Miss Phillips or 


108 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Miss Landis. They seem to be about the most popu- 
lar teachers in the school.’’ 

'They deserve to be!” exclaimed Marjorie. "Es- 
pecially Miss Phillips — I think she’s wonderful 1” 

"I certainly am surprised you didn’t make it, 
Marj,” said Ruth. "Of course, when they decided 
on that team business, I knew I couldn’t,” she lied. 

"I thought they’d count the class swimming team,” 
said Lily. "Why, we can’t really start till we have 
eight girls, for you need at least that number for a 
troop.” 

"Miss Phillips expects to pick the swimming team 
to-morrow,” said Marjorie. 

"How do you know?” asked Ruth. 

"She told me.” 

"Oh, I’m going in swimming before breakfast, 
if she’ll let me!” 

Marjorie smiled. "You’ll make the team, Ruth,” 
she said. "But how are your lessons ?” 

"All right, I guess. Now would you rather belong 
to the Girl Scouts or OAB, Marjorie?” 

"I am resigning from OAB on Friday, Ruth.” 

"But you weren’t one of the candidates for the 
troop !” 

"I know — but I want to help abolish the sorority.” 

"Oh, Marj, you’re a peach !” exclaimed Ruth, with 
genuine admiration. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


109 


Friday evening came. The sorority girls had 
their meeting immediately after supper, and ad- 
journed in time to see the Boy Scouts’ demonstra- 
tion. The same six girls held to their resolutions 
to resign, and Marian Guard and Ethel Todd joined 
their ranks. Eight girls were left ,* if one more re- 
signed, the sorority would have to dissolve. 

According to her promise Miss Phillips came to 
the meeting ; but she was late, and found that there 
was really nothing for her to do. Marjorie and the 
others had definitely made up their minds; so they 
contented themselves with asking the teacher a few 
questions about the troop, and adjourned early. 

When the OAB girls reached the assembly room, 
they found it already crowded. At two minutes of 
eight, a drum and a bugle sounded in march time, 
and a flag bearer, carrying the American flag, and 
followed by eight Boy Scouts, in double file, marched 
up the aisle to the platform. They held their heads 
high, and their shoulders back ; and as they marched, 
they looked neither to the right nor to the left. One 
or two of the freshmen giggled, but the boys main- 
tained the discipline of soldiers. Marjorie looked 
for John Hadley, and saw him at the head of the 
line. 

They reached the platform, and halted at the com- 
mand of their patrol leader. At the words : ‘‘Left, 


110 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


FACE they all turned to the front; the flag bearer 
and the color guards on each side stepped forward. 
Then the scouts pledged allegiance to the flag, after 
which the flag bearer and the guards returned to their 
places in the line. 

At the signal from John, they all repeated the 
Scout oath and recited the twelve Boy Scout laws. 
Then all the other boys sat down, and John stepped 
forward. The girls rather expected him to be ner- 
vous, but he seemed to have complete control of 
himself. He looked straight into their eager faces, 
and told them what the Scouts were about to do. 

“We are honored to be asked here by Miss Allen, 
and we are glad to welcome our sister Scouts in this 
school,^’ he said. “We look forward to lots of good 
times with you. We want you to enjoy our cabin 
in the woods, and we will be glad to teach you any- 
thing we know. We even hope to have a baseball 
game with the troop. And we promise to wear 
skirts, if you will lend them to us!^’ 

He was rewarded with a laugh at his suggestion. 
“Now,’' he continued, “we are here to-night to show 
you some of the ordinary things Scouts do. You 
saw our opening meeting and heard our promise and 
our laws. You know our salute. Now we will show 
you some signalling.” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


111 


Two of the boys stepped forward; one went down 
the steps. 

‘Will someone in the room please write Russell 
Henderson, the Scout on the platform, a message? 
Then he will signal it, and the Scout at the end of 
the room will receive it.” 

Miss Phillips wrote something on a piece of paper 
and handed it to John. He gave it to Russell, who 
signaled it in semaphore with two flags, which fairly 
seemed to fly from one position to the next; and in 
a minute, the Scout at the end of the room read 
out : 

“We thank the Boy Scouts of Episcopal for their 
help.” 

Miss Phillips said that the message was correct. 
Everyone clapped. 

John then asked for another message, and Frances 
Wright handed him one. With the Scout still at 
the end of the room, Russell took out a tiny tele- 
graph instrument and tapped out sounds which were 
meaningless to the girls, but which were evidently 
intelligible to David Conner, the Scout at the rear, 
for he read out; 

“Girl Scouts want to learn signalling.” 

“That is right,” said Frances. 

“Now we will show you some First-Aid work.” 

All the boys except John took part in this — four 


112 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


acting as doctors, and four serving as patients. They 
put on the head-cap, the spiral-reverse, the five-finger 
bandage, and the triangular arm-sling. After they 
had finished these, they demonstrated resuscitation, 
fireman’ s-lift, and the making of a stretcher. The 
girls watched breathlessly, and clapped heartily when 
it was over. 

Then two Scouts stepped forward and did what 
seemed to the girls a truly marvelous thing : they put 
down a big sheet of tin and made a fire without any 
matches. They did this by using the method of 
the Indians: a wooden bow-drill rotated until the 
friction produced heat sufficient to ignite the fuel. 
When finally it burst into flames, there was a great 
shout of applause. 

John ended by thanking the girls for their atten- 
tion, saying that he hoped all the girls present would 
eventually become Scouts. 

Miss Allen thanked the boys, and invited them to 
the gymnasium to meet the girls who were candi- 
dates. The rest of the school were dismissed to re- 
turn to their rooms. 

It was a much envied little group that followed 
Miss Allen out of the room, and more than one girl 
resolved to perfect her studies or her athletics in 
order to be among the favored few in the future. 

Ruth sought Marjorie, and the girls went out to- 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


113 


gether, closer in spirit than they had been for sev- 
eral months, due probably to their common misfor- 
tune at being left out of the happy number. 

"‘And to think,’’ said Ruth, “that Lily Andrews 
is inside the favored circle, and we are both out- 
side !” 


114j 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER XIII 

AFTER THE MEETING 

As soon as the opening ceremony was over, and 
John Hadley stepped forward to speak, he looked 
eagerly around the audience for Marjorie. But he 
was not able to locate her immediately; in fact, it 
was not until the boys had begun to semaphore, that 
he recognized her earnest, up-turned face. 

Neither he nor Marjorie showed by their faces 
that they had ever seen each other before, but John 
waited impatiently for the meeting to be over, so 
that he might have a chance to talk with the girl 
who had occupied so much of his thoughts during 
the past days. 

When Miss Allen had said that the Girl Scout 
candidates had already been chosen, and that they 
were to meet the Boy Scouts for a few moments 
after the demonstration, John felt sure that he would 
see Marjorie. For certainly she would be among 
those selected. Jack had often told him of his sis- 
ter’s love of the out-of-doors; and the interest she 
had expressed in scout affairs at the dance assured 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


115 


him that she was just the type of girl to become a 
Girl Scout. 

So, when Miss Allen introduced the seven girls 
on the way to the gym, it was with a feeling of keen 
disappointment that John realized that Marjorie was 
not one of them. Recognizing the OAB sophomores 
that he had met at the dance, he went up and spoke 
to Ethel. 

After they had exchanged the usual greetings, he 
tried to ask as casually as possible, ‘‘Where is Mar- 
jorie Wilkinson? Isn’t she a candidate for the scout 
troop ?” 

“No,” replied Ethel, “unfortunately she isn’t !” 

“Why not?” asked John in surprise. “I thought 
she would be just the sort of girl to go in for a thing 
like this!” 

“She is — she’s very athletic. She made the school 
hockey team, which is a big honor for a freshman. 
But Miss Allen made other qualifications.” 

By this time, the party had reached the gym- 
nasium, and their conversation was interrupted while 
Miss Phillips invited everybody to dance. Before 
John had a chance to ask Ethel for the dance, David 
Conner had claimed her, and he was forced to find 
another partner. 

But they did not dance long, for Miss Phillips 
had some questions she wished to ask the Boy Scouts. 


116 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


During the brief intermission that followed, John 
again sought Ethel. 

While he was turning over in his mind an easy 
way to bring the conversation back to Marjorie, 
Lily approached with ice-cream and cake. 

“Miss Andrews is Marjorie’s room-mate,” said 
Ethel, while Lily was serving them. “She can tell 
you all about her.” Then turning to Lily, she ex- 
plained, “Mr. Hadley was wondering why Marjorie 
isn’t a candidate for the troop, and I started to ex- 
plain. But won’t you sit down here, so that I can 
see if Miss Phillips needs me?” 

Lily took Ethel’s place, and explained about her 
room-mate’s Latin. 

After the young people had finished their ice- 
cream, Miss Phillips asked everybody to move their 
chairs into a circle, so that the conversation might 
become general. She asked John all sorts of ques- 
tions about the conducting of meetings, and troop 
affairs, and the girls listened with interest to his 
replies. 

“We would like a spirit of friendly rivalry between 
the troops,” he said. “We might have contests in 
such things as signalling and knot-tying.” 

“Not very soon !” laughed Miss Phillips. “I am 
afraid it will be a good while before we can com- 
pete with you!” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


117 


‘‘Won’t you tell us about camping?” asked Fran- 
ces. “What do we have to take with us, and about 
how much does it cost?” 

John hesitated. “It would be easier to show you, 
Miss Wright, when you come out to our cabin for 
a visit. We’ll fix a date for a party, as soon as your 
troop is established.” 

The girls exclaimed enthusiastically over the plan, 
and asked more questions about the cabin. 

“Do you have qualifications to join your troop 
like we do?” inquired Lily. 

“We certainly do!” said John emphatically; “but 
they’re a little different from yours; every three 
months we have what we call a B. S. Candidate test. 
To pass this a fellow has to make flower and leaf 
collections, and know how to identify a certain num- 
ber of birds, and answer all sorts of questions be- 
sides. Then if he passes that test, he has to spend 
a night alone in the cabin. He’s allowed a gun, and 
as there really aren’t any tramps around to be afraid 
of, it’s pretty safe.” 

“Except for the ghosts,” interrupted David. 
“Most all the boys report that they saw something 
mysterious.” 

At this point. Miss Phillips invited the boys to 
inspect the swimming pool, and the conversation lost 
its general tone. 


118 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


John walked with Lily. 

‘'It must be terribly exciting to stay all night 
alone in that cabin,” she said, “but I’m afraid I’d be 
too scared to try it.” 

“Oh, I guess most girls would !” 

“I bet Ruth Henry wouldn’t, though! She’d try 
most anything!” 

“Ruth Henry?” repeated John; “that name sounds 
familiar.” 

“Most likely you have heard Marjorie speak of 
her. She’s a friend from her town.” 

“No, but I have heard Jack Wilkinson mention 
her. But she can’t be a very intimate friend, for 
she wasn’t at the dance !” 

“Neither was I,” said Lily, good-naturedly; “and 
I count myself a very intimate friend of Marjorie’s ! 
But she only invited the OAB girls to that house 
party !” 

“Oh!” said John significantly. “And how is 
OAB?” 

“Dying; the Girl Scouts put it out of business.” 

“I should think they would ! What does Marjorie 
think of that?” 

“She resigned long ago.” 

“Good for her!” said John. “Well, I wish she 
was a Girl Scout. It’s my last year at Episcopal, and 
if I don’t see her this year, I guess I never will. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 119 

Will you give her my regards?” he added, hesitat- 
ingly. 

‘‘Surely,” said Lily. “And what are you plan- 
ning to do next year, Mr. Hadley?” 

“Princeton, I think,” he said, “though Pm not 
quite sure.” 

By the time the scouts had completed their tour 
of inspection, it was ten o’clock, and they said good- 
bye to the girls and hurried off to get their things. 
Lily ran up to her room as fast as she could, to tell 
Marjorie the news. 

“Did he really ask about me?” asked her room- 
mate, trying to appear disinterested. 

“Yes, and he seemed so disappointed that you 
weren’t in the troop !” 

“Tell me all about it,” said Marjorie; and Lily 
complied with her request, carrying on one of those 
one-sided conversations about “what he said,” that 
girls all love to hold with each other. 

“But I didn’t tell him how soon you would be a 
Girl Scout,” she concluded. 

“If I only am!” sighed Marjorie. “It seems to 
me I never wanted anything so much in my life!” 

“Well, keep on studying, and it won’t be long now 
till the next Latin test, and that will surely give you 
the chance you have been waiting for !” 


120 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER XIV 

PANSY TROOP MEETS 

Now that the girls had seen the Boy Scouts’ dem- 
onstration, they were more anxious than ever to get 
their own troop started. But they did not have long 
to wait, for the following afternoon Miss Phillips 
placed a typewritten list on the Bulletin Board in the 
main hall. 

In a few minutes, a crowd began to gather. Ruth 
was the first to appear ; to her great delight she saw 
her name at the bottom of the list. 

‘"Who made it?” asked Marjorie, who was too 
far back in the crowd to read the paper. 

Ruth read it out loud : 

“School Swimming Team: 

“Seniors — Margaret Williams, Martha Meyers. 

“Juniors — Helen Stewart, Edith Evans, Violet 
Henderson. 

“Sophomores — Ethel Todd. 

“Freshmen — Ruth Henry. 

“Substitutes — Rose Craig, Frances Wright.” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


121 


‘^Congratulations, Ruth!” said Marjorie, sincerely. 
“Now you’ll surely be a Girl Scout 1” 

“I hope so,” said Ruth, as she walked down the 
hall with her old friend. “My last marks were 
pretty good — but, you never can tell.” 

“If I ever pull up my Latin, I’m going in harder 
for swimming. I want to learn fancy diving and 
life-saving,” said Marjorie. 

“That would be nice,” agreed Ruth, “but for the 
present I’m going to be content with plain dives and 
long-distance swimming. Anyway, I can swim well 
enough to be a First Class scout, if I pass the other 
qualifications.” 

The girls separated to dress for dinner. It hardly 
seemed possible that Miss Allen could announce the 
new Scout candidates so soon, and yet a decided air 
of expectancy prevailed during dinner that evening. 
Every few minutes, one or two girls would allow 
their glance to wander in her direction, and they 
were finally rewarded by seeing her rise from her 
chair. 

“You have all seen the names of the girls on the 
swimming team,” she said. “You know, too, that 
out of that list of eight girls, four are already can- 
didates for the Scouts. 

“All this goes to prove,” she continued, “just 
what Miss Phillips and I have always thought — 


122 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


the same girls go out for athletics over and over 
again, and the rest of the school is content to let 
them do all the work. Now what we hope the Girl 
Scout organization will do, is to make interest more 
general. 

^'Of the remaining four girls on the swimming 
team, only one stands high enough in her lessons to 
be selected as a candidate. That girl is Ruth 
Henry 

As soon as the girls had stopped clapping. Miss 
Allen went on with the announcements. ^‘The eight 
candidates — Dorothy Maxwell, Edith Evans, Helen 
Stewart, Frances Wright, Ethel Todd, Marian 
Guard, Lily Andrews, and Ruth Henry are to meet 
in my office to-morrow afternoon at two o^clock to 
organize and to elect their Captain.’^ 

After dinner was over, Marjorie sought Ruth. 
She was not jealous of her friend’s triumph; Ruth 
deserved it, and she did not. 

So, with genuine pleasure, she said, ‘T’m awfully 
glad you made it, Ruth. Nobody deserves it more 
than you !” 

Ruth thanked her, and Marjorie continued en- 
thusiastically, ‘T think you have done a big thing 
for the school. And I mean to belong just as soon 
as possible. I’m going to give up everything else 
till I pull up my Latin mark !” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


123 


Ruth bit her lip. To her, half the fun of belong- 
ing to the Girl Scouts consisted in being able to 
write home and tell her parents and friends that 
she had succeeded where Marjorie had failed. But 
she said nothing to indicate her feelings to the other 
girl. 

Promptly at two o’clock the next afternoon — 
which Was Saturday — the scout candidates assem- 
bled in Miss Allen’s office. 

‘The first thing we will do,” said Miss Allen, “is 
to vote for a Captain. Then, if possible, we will 
invite the person you elect into the meeting, and she 
can take charge, for I won’t have time myself.” 

She asked Ruth to come forward and give out 
the paper for voting. “Every Scout should be pre- 
pared with a pencil, but if any girl needs one this 
time, I will lend her one. 

“Write the name of the person you want on the 
paper; if there isn’t a majority for any one candi- 
date the first time, we will vote over again between 
the two or three highest.” 

But there was no cause for a second vote; Miss 
Phillips was elected by an overwhelming majority. 
Lily was sent to the gymnasium to tell her of the 
result of the election, and returned with an invita- 
tion for the meeting to transfer its location to the 
gymnasium. 


124 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


In a few words, Miss Phillips thanked the girls 
for the honor they had given her, and promised to 
live up to the Scout laws as faithfully as she could. 

**Now,’^ she continued, ‘^since we have eight girls^ 
we will elect a patrol leader and a corporal.’’ 

‘What are their duties. Miss Phillips?” asked 
Lily. 

Miss Phillips smiled. “Scout Andrews,” she re- 
plied, “after this when you wish to ask a ques- 
tion, rise, salute me, and say ‘Captain Phillips.’ If 
I return the salute, then you ask your question. 
Now — let’s try that!” 

Lily did as she was requested, and Miss Phillips 
explained that the duties of these officers were to 
get the girls out to the meetings, lead the marching, 
conduct opening exercises, and so forth. Frances 
Wright was elected patrol leader and Lily Andrews 
was made corporal. 

“Now,” said Miss Phillips, “open your handbooks 
to page 44, and you will see the different ceremonies 
to be used. We will begin with a simple one to- 
night.” 

After she had read the instructions aloud, she 
blew a series of short whistles and the girls assembled 
in line — with Frances at the top, and Lily next. 
Lily was sent to the room next door for the flag, 
and at the command of the Captain, the girls 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


125 


pledged allegiance. Then they sang one stanza of 
‘The Star-Spangled Banner,” standing at attention. 
After this, led by Miss Phillips, they took the Scout 
oath. With their right hands raised to their fore- 
heads, they repeated : 

“On my honor I will try 
To be true to God and my country. 

To help others at all times. 

To obey the Scout laws.” 

Their hands dropped to their sides. 

“Patrol Leader Wright,” commanded Miss Phil- 
lips, “lead in the Scout Laws.” 

Frances stepped in front of the group, saluted the 
Captain, and the girls repeated with her: 

“A Girl Scout’s honor is to be trusted. 

A Girl Scout is loyal. 

A Girl Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help 
others. 

A Girl Scout is a friend to all, and a sister to every 
other Girl Scout. 

A Girl Scout is courteous. 

A Girl Scout is a friend to animals. 

A Girl Scout obeys orders. 

A Girl Scout is cheerful. 


126 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


A Girl Scout is thrifty. 

A Girl Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.’' 

*'What is your motto ?" asked Miss Phillips. 

‘"Be prepared,” they answered. 

'What is your slogan?” 

"Do a good turn daily.” 

"Be seated!” commanded Miss Phillips. "After 
opening ceremony,” she continued, when the girls 
were seated, "comes Scout talk. To-night I am go- 
ing to talk about your good turn. It will be harder 
for you girls than for the Scouts who live at home, 
but let me see what you can do. Make a list of the 
things you do, but do not sign it. Bring it next 
week to the meeting, and perhaps we shall read them 
aloud.” Then she suggested some good turns that 
might be done at the school. 

"Business meeting is next in order. We must 
first of all have a secretary. I am ready for nomi- 
nations.” 

After a great deal of consideration, Ethel Todd 
was elected secretary ; Ruth Henry was made treas- 
urer. 

"Now it is time to decide upon a name,” an- 
nounced Miss Phillips. 

"A name?” asked Ruth, without rising or salut- 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 127 

ing. ‘‘Can we have Greek letters — or something 
like that?” 

The other girls smiled at her impetuosity, but 
Miss Phillips hastened to correct the false impres- 
sion. 

“No, not that,” she answered, “but each troop 
takes the name of a flower — rose, daisy, violet, and 
so on. And each patrol takes the name of a bird. 
Suppose some of you suggest the names you would 
like, and we can vote upon the three most popular.” 

Frances suggested “Pansy,” and the girls decided 
to make it their choice. The selection of the pa- 
trol symbol was put off until a later time. 

After dues had been discussed and agreed upon. 
Miss Phillips said, “I would like to suggest that we 
consider candidates only once a month. It is nearly 
February now — and we are just starting. It would 
make too much confusion if we take them in at 
every meeting. So I think the best plan would be to 
get the list of those eligible from Miss Allen at the 
end of each month, and take them in at the following 
meeting.” 

This suggestion was voted upon and passed. 

“When shall we have our first hike?” asked the 
Captain. 

Frances Wright rose and saluted Miss Phillips. 


128 THE GIRL SCOUTS 

‘'Captain/* she said, “let*s wait until we get our uni- 
forms/* 

Helen Stewart’s face fell. She was one of the 
poorest girls in the school — ^her mother was a widow, 
and it was about all she could afford to do to pay! 
the regular expenses. Helen did not know how 
she would ever get her uniform. 

“All right,** agreed the Captain, “but you all know 
you have to earn the uniform. You aren’t allowed 
to write home and ask your parents for the money. 
And what is more, you are supposed to make it !’* 

Lily looked disappointed. She was thinking of 
having her uniform made by a Fifth Avenue tailor. 
Helen looked proportionately pleased. 

“There are lots of things you can do to earn 
money — t)^ewriting in the office, taking care of 
babies, running errands for people in the village, 
taking orders for knitting and sewing ** 

“But we’ll be almost like servants!” exclaimed 
Lily, interrupting her Captain’s speech. 

“It won’t hurt you, girls,” Miss Phillips said 
laughingly. “And to encourage you,** she added, 
“I’ll earn mine, aside from my salary.” 

“And we’ll make it a kind of race to see who can 
earn theirs first. Let’s have a bank and a banker, 
and report each week on what we have made.” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


129 


The girls approved of the plan, and Ethel Todd, 
the secretary, was chosen banker. 

“Now,” said Miss Philips, “we will adjourn our 
business meeting for Scout work. Open your hand- 
books to page 6o; we are going over the Tenderfoot 
test together.” 

The test seemed comparatively easy, and Miss 
Phillips decided to give it the following week. “You 
may each bring a quarter,” she said, “and if every- 
body passes we will fill out our blank and send it to 
National Headquarters in New York. 

“Now,” continued the Captain, “let’s have some 
games. Next week we’ll have military drill, but we 
won’t start that to-night. Let’s play ‘Boots without 
shoes.’ Does anybody know it?” 

The girls shook their heads, and Miss Phillips 
requested all but Frances to go into her office. 

She explained the game to Frances, and told her 
to go and bring one of the girls into the room. She 
returned with Lily. 

“You want to belong to the Girl Scouts, don’t 
you, Lily?” asked Miss Phillips, with mock solem- 
nity. 

“Yes.” 

“Then will you promise to do as I do, but to say 
just what I tell you to say?” 

“I promise.” 


130 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Miss Phillips took three jumps. ‘"Say ‘Boots/ 
without shoes!” 

Lily imitated the action, and repeated, “Boots, 
without shoes!” 

“But that isn't right!” protested Miss Phillips. 
“We’ll try over again.” 

She gave her increasingly difficult gymnastic feats 
to perform, ending each with the same command of 
“Say ‘Boots,’ without shoes !” 

Finally Lily saw through the trick, and cried 
triumphantly, “Boots !” 

Miss Phillips sent her for the next girl, and they 
continued until all the girls were initiated. 

Before they separated for the evening, Miss Phil- 
lips taught the girls the Scout yell — 

“A-M-E-R-I-C-A 

GIRL SCOUTS— GIRL SCOUTS— U. S. A.” 

and they yelled it joyfully, adding first “Miss Al- 
len’s, Miss Allen’s,” on the end, and then giving it 
over again in honor of Miss Phillips. 

Lily ran up to find Marjorie, who had spent the 
first Friday evening since Pledge-Day in her own 
room. Both girls were glad that there was no se- 
crecy about the Girl Scout meeting, which would 
prevent them from discussing it together. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


131 


Ruth went over to her own room with equai haste, 
joyfully anticipating the letter she would write to 
the folks at home to tell them of her good fortune^ 


132 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER XV 

THE LATIN TEST 

By the twentieth of February, the eight candi- 
dates had passed their Tenderfoot tests, and were 
registered at National Headquarters as regular 
members of the Girl Scouts. After the preliminary 
exercises of the meeting were over. Captain Phillips 
asked for a report from the banker. 

‘"All the girls have handed in enough money for 
the khaki and buttons. Captain,” Ethel Todd an- 
nounced, after she had given the usual salute. “And 
some have turned in more than was required. Shall 
I give that to the treasurer?” 

“No,” answered Miss Phillips, “we will keep up 
our banking system, so that each girl can always 
have money on hand to purchase the necessary equip- 
ment. Now,” she continued, turning to the troop, 
“I want reports on how the individual Girl Scouts 
earned their money.” 

The accounts that followed were both interesting 
and original. Ruth had made fudge, and sold it at 
a profit; Ethel Todd had addressed envelopes in 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


133 


Miss Allen’s office, and had helped with the school 
records; Frances and Marian had taken care of 
babies for some Alumnae members of OAB who lived 
in the village; Lily Andrews and Edith Evans had 
secured subscriptions for a well-known woman’s 
magazine ; and Helen Stewart and Dorothy Maxwell 
had advertised their services for ‘^odd jobs” among 
their school-mates, and had been rewarded with 
plenty of mending, pressing, darning, and even shoe- 
shining. 

All the girls agreed that the experience had been 
fun; even Lily admitted that she did not mind it 
after she had once started. 

“Awd what did you do, Captain Phillips?” she 
asked. 

“I organized a dancing-class for the little tots of 
the village, which meets one afternoon a week, and 
I charge each child ten cents a lesson,” she replied. 

''Good!” exclaimed Lily, "you lived up to your 
promise 1” 

"Girls,” said the Captain, "I am going into the 
city to-morrow, and I will order the uniforms — the 
kind that come cut out ready to sew. Then we ought 
to receive them before next Saturday, and if we do, 
we can meet up in the sewing-room and give up the 
day to making them.” 


134 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘‘And when will we go on our hike, Captain?*’ 
asked Frances, with the usual formality. 

“The following Saturday, I hope. You see the 
marks come out the next Monday, and the Gym 
team will be selected; so new girls will be eligible 
to the troop after that. And I want one hike by 
ourselves — as a reward for the good work you have 
done.’* 

“How many new girls do you think we shall 
have?” asked Marian. 

“There will be ten girls on the school Gym-team, 
but probably some of those are already Scouts. And 
then there is a possibility that some of the girls who 
are either hockey or swimming-team members may 
pull up their marks in their studies and qualify.” 

Lily clapped her hands. “I do so hope Marjorie 
makes it,” she exclaimed with such enthusiasm that 
Miss Phillips did not have the heart to reprove her 
for her breach of discipline. “And she will,” she 
added, “if she makes 90% in her Latin test.” 

Ruth looked annoyed. Half the fun of being a 
Girl Scout was the publicity of it — ^the fact that she 
was one of the eight distinguished members — ^thaf 
she belonged to something Marjorie could not join. 

“As soon as we get more girls into the troop,” 
announced Captain Phillips, “we will give a play, to 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


135 


earn enough money to pay for our camping trip this 
summer/’ 

The girls were so interested that Miss Phillips was 
forced to go into details about the plans ; they talked 
such a long time that it was necessary to adjourn 
without the customary games. 

Marjorie’s evening had been spent in her own 
room, studying Latin. Although the test was not 
to be held until the following Tuesday, she felt that 
she had not a minute to lose. The hardest part to 
her was, of course, the English into Latin — “prose 
composition,” Miss White, the teacher, called it. It 
was in this that she had failed before; therefore, she 
directed all her effort to mastering it. There was not 
one construction of which she felt uncertain ; she did 
not see how she could fail. 

Just as she was gathering her books into a neat 
pile for the night, the door opened and Lily came in. 
She was full of the plans for the hike, the play, and 
the camp; and she poured her news into Marjorie’s 
eager ears. 

When she stopped a moment for breath, the other 
girl exclaimed, “I simply must make it ! I’d love to 
be in the play, and go camping! Just think of the 
fun ! Of course, Miss Phillips will go with you this 
summer?” 

“Certainly!” replied Lily. “Oh, Marj, you’ll 


136 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


surely be a Girl Scout before then. But keep on 
studying/’ she urged. 

When Marjorie laid her paper on Miss White’s 
desk on Tuesday, she felt that she had done exceed- 
ingly well in the examination. She had thought out 
each construction and had written carefully; she had 
gone over her paper twice to make sure that there 
were no corrections or omissions; and she was the 
next to last girl to leave the room. 

Ruth Henry was the last girl to turn in her paper. 
This was not because she was slow or uncertain of 
her work, for she was an excellent Latin student; 
but she usually remained to walk over to the dormi- 
tory with Miss White, with whom she was a great 
favorite. 

Just as she rose from her seat to hand in her 
paper, a messenger entered from the office. 

‘‘Miss White, here is a telegram for you,” she said, 
handing her a yellow envelope. 

Ruth stood still, and the messenger withdrew. As 
Miss White read the telegram, her face grew pale. 

“What is it. Miss White? Oh, I hope nothing is 
wrong?” said Ruth. 

“My mother’s very ill — I must go home immedi- 
ately.” 

“I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do ?” asked 
Ruth impulsively. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


137 


Miss White hesitated a moment. ‘‘Yes, dear, 
thank you — straighten up this room and my desk; 
put the papers in a neat pile in the bottom drawer; 
then lock it and bring me the key. And you can 
carry my suitcase to the station, if you wish.” 

“Yes, indeed. Please don’t worry. Miss White — 
surely she’ll get better!” 

Miss White smiled sadly, and handed Ruth the 
key. “You are a dear, good girl, Ruth,” she said, 
as she opened the door. 

Ruth began to straighten the papers, which the 
girls had piled one by one on top of the teacher’s 
desk. As she picked them up, one from the top of 
the pile fell to the floor. She stooped to pick it up. 
It was Marjorie Wilkinson’s ! 

Suddenly, Ruth thought of the other girl’s house- 
party, and the dance which she had witnessed through 
the lighted windows; she remembered Marjorie’s 
indifference during the days that followed her pledg- 
ing to the sorority; and heard Lily exclaim' over 
again that if her room-mate made 90% in this Latin 
test, she would be a Girl Scout. 

This was the opportunity she had been waiting 
for; if she had schemed and planned for it, it could 
not have been more perfect. If she let this chance 
go by, she would probably never have another like 


138 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


it. She would pay Marjorie back for what she had 
done in the past. 

Taking a pen, and dipping it in Miss White’s ink- 
well, she turned to the questions marked “English 
into Latin.” With her knowledge, it was a simple 
matter to make little changes — adding letters here 
and there at the ends of words to make the gender, 
number, tense, or case of the word out of harmony 
with the rest of the sentence. 

Once she thought she heard a sound at the door; 
she quickly dropped her pen, and pretended to 
straighten the papers. But no one came in, and she 
finished her work of deceit. To the casual observer, 
Marjorie’s paper looked no different; but to the Latin 
student, it proved to be like the poor twisted poem 
of “Father William” in “Alice in Wonderland,” 
“wrong from beginning to end.” 

While she was locking Miss White’s desk, the risk 
of her act occurred to her. What if the teacher 
should decide to return the papers to the girls, con- 
trary to her usual custom ? What if Marjorie should 
not be satisfied with her mark, and should ask Miss 
White to go over the paper with her ? 

But it was too late now to think of the danger; 
the deed was done, and she must take the conse- 
quences. 

She decided on the whole that she would stand 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


139 


less chance of detection if the teacher took the pa- 
pers home with her to mark. Accordingly, she un- 
locked the desk again and took out the pile, and, 
leaving everything in good order, went over to Miss 
White’s room. 

‘T brought the test papers over to you. Miss 
White, instead of leaving them in your desk, because 
I thought you would want to take them home and 
mark them there, so you could mail the averages to 
Miss Allen before the term closes.” 

''Thank you, Ruth, you are so thoughtful. Here 
— I will put them in my suitcase,” she said, taking 
them from the girl. 

"Now I think I’m ready,” she concluded. "Here 
is a sweater for you to wear to the station — and I 
guess your hands won’t get lost in these gloves.” 

Ruth put on the borrowed clothing, and picked up 
the suitcase. 

After she came back from the station, she began 
to dress for dinner, but said nothing to Ethel of the 
incident, lest in some way it might throw suspicion 
on her. 

All the rest of the week Marjorie felt the satisfac- 
tion of a person whose task was well done. She 
looked eagerly forward to Monday when her success 
would be announced, and the troop would claim her 
as a candidate. She knew her Tenderfoot test al- 


140 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


ready, and she thought constantly of possible ways 
to earn money for her uniform. 

The Friday evening before the term closed, OAB 
girls met for the last time. Two Juniors who had 
been chosen for the gym team, and who were prac- 
tically sure of making the Girl Scout troop, resigned ; 
and with only six members left, the sorority had to 
disband. 

As Marjorie sat alone in her room that evening 
while Lily attended the Scout meeting, she occu- 
pied herself by writing a long letter home. And in 
this letter, she told her mother to expect a splendid 
report from the school — with a mark in Latin that 
she would be proud of. ''And I think,’* she con- 
cluded, "that this is the last Friday evening I shall 
have to spend in my room alone — for by this time 
next week, I hope to be a Girl Scout !” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


14.1 


CHAPTER XVI 

A WINTER HIKE 

It was indeed an attractive group of girls who 
met on Saturday morning, dressed in their new Scout 
uniforms, with their packs strapped to their backs. 
Perhaps they felt a trifle self-conscious, but they 
had no need to be ashamed of their appearance, for 
their suits could not have fitted them more neatly if 
they had been made by a fashionable dressmaker. 

As soon as they left the building, they formed in 
a line — ^two abreast — and swung along in step. Miss 
Phillips told them that when they left the village and 
struck the open country, they might sing as they 
marched. 

‘‘And that reminds me,” she said, “I want some 
Scout songs of our very own, and I happened to 
mention the matter to Miss Allen, and she offered a 
canteen as a prize for the best song submitted before 
June first. So get to work, girls. You needn’t at- 
tempt to write the music — unless you want to — but 
take some familiar tune and make up new words.” 

The day was clear and just cold enough to make 


142 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


the walk bracing. The girls had gone to bed early 
the night before, and were in perfect trim for the 
hike. And they were very happy. They would be 
glad to welcome the new girls the following week, 
and make them their ‘'Scout sisters”; but for the 
present they were content to enjoy this last inti- 
mate little adventure alone. 

Miss Phillips had secured copies of the Nature 
Calendar of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences ; 
and the girls had made a list of some of the Feb- 
ruary birds to look for. They had noted the charac- 
teristics of the hemlock, the spruce, and the red and 
white cedars, and were anxious to put their knowl- 
edge to a test. 

Ruth and Ethel had been given two dollars from 
the treasury, with the instructions to purchase whole- 
some food. “We shall have our first lesson in out- 
door cooking,” Miss Phillips had said, “so be sure to 
buy something that we can cook over a camp fire. 
But don’t get anything like raw beans,” she had 
laughingly instructed them, “for they require twelve 
hours’ baking, and we don’t expect to make it an 
overnight hike this time 1” 

So Ruth and Ethel had done their purchasing, and 
had wrapped their articles into eight packages ; they 
gave each girl a bundle to carry, but refused to tell 
what they had bought. And, of course, everybody 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


143 


tried to find out by feeling her package, but in most 
cases this failed to reveal the identity of the con- 
tents. 

After ten minutes’ walk, the Scouts had left the 
town, and struck the woods. Miss Phillips blew a 
series of short whistles and called the girls together 
for instructions. 

'We are going to lay a trail,” she said. 'Trances, 
Ethel, Dorothy, and Ruth are to go ahead, and put 
down the signals; the rest of us will wait here ten 
minutes and then follow. 

'Tay your trail until you come to a good place to 
make a fire and eat lunch. Choose a spot somewhere 
near good water, and be sure that you are well pro- 
tected from the wind. If you can find a flat rock, 
so much the better; but be sure that the ground is 
dry.” 

"I’ve never eaten around a camp fire,” said Lily. 
"It’s going to be such fun!” 

"How will we know what signals to lay?” asked 
Ruth. 

"I am going to tell you some of the simple ones : 
perhaps we shall learn those more difficult later on 
from the Boy Scouts. Has anybody a pen-knife?” 

"I have, Captain,” said Marian, producing one. 

'Will you lend it to Ethel ? Now, Ethel, you can 


144 } 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


blaze a trail by cutting off a piece of bark from a 
tree along a path which you are following. 

‘‘But that is not to be the only signal. You can 
break a twig, and leave it hanging, or you can set a 
small stone on top of a larger one to mark the trail. 

‘‘Now for the turns — if you want us to follow the 
path to the right, put a long mark on the right of the 
tree trunk beneath the blaze ; or bend your twig out 
straight to the right; or when you put your little 
stone on top of your big one, place another small 
stone beside them to the right — and, of course, vice 
versa for the left. Do you understand?” 

“Yes, yes,” cried the girls. 

“One thing more — ^has everybody matches in her 
knapsack?” 

Fortunately everybody did have, for Miss Phil- 
lips had especially warned the girls to be provided 
with them. 

“Now,” she continued, “I want you to try to keep 
together ; and always remember this : no fewer than 
two girls must travel together in the woods ; but if 
anything ever should happen to separate one of you 
from your companions, and you find that you are 
lost, select a high, open spot and make two fires — 
carefully piling on lots of leaves and grass to make 
smoke ; for Girl Scouts have adopted the signal that 
two smokes arising together mean ‘I am lost — ^help.’ 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


145 


**Now run along, girls, before you get cold !” 

While the remaining girls — Edith, Marian, Lily, 
and Helen waited the ten minutes. Miss Phillips in- 
stituted a game to keep them from becoming cold. 

When the time was up, they started off, looking 
carefully for signals of the trail. Miss Phillips told 
them to call out when they discovered a trail and 
instructed each girl to keep count of the signs she 
discovered first. Once or twice, everybody missed 
a mark, and went straight ahead ; then, failing to see 
any evidences of the trail, they all turned back and 
discovered they had missed the turn. 

Finally Dorothy spied a smoke in the distance. 
“Can that be our girls?” she asked. 

“I guess so,” replied Miss Phillips. “One smoke 
means ‘We are camping here.’ ” 

The girls ran as fast as they could, and soon 
reached the spot. Ethel had spread the big blanket 
on the ground, and the other girls had succeeded in 
starting a good fire. Ruth had filled her canteen 
from a spring not far distant, and offered the girls 
water. Frances was trying to fasten branches into 
the ground from which to suspend the kettle for 
hot water. 

“It’s pretty hard to dig a deep enough hole without 
a spade, Frances,” said Miss Phillips, after she had 
laid down her pack. “Let your fire die down a 


146 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


little, and put two green logs on each side of it ; theft 
we can set the kettle across them right over the 
fire.” 

She turned to Ruth. ‘^Now what have you for 
lunch?” she inquired. 

“Doggies, rolls, cocoa (we have that in the ther- 
mos bottle), and baked beans; and a surprise for 
dessert !” 

“Baked beans!” exclaimed Lily, “what did Cap- 
tain tell you?” 

“Oh, theyVe not that kind,” laughingly explained 
Ethel ; “they’re all cooked — by Mr. Heinz ; we only 
have to heat them 1” 

The girls dropped the can in the hot water in the 
kettle, and each proceeded to get a stick on which 
to toast the sausages. Soon they were eating hun- 
grily. 

“Tell us how you liked our trail,” said Ruth. 

“It was great I” said Miss Phillips. “By the way 
— who found the most signs?” 

“I believe Edith did, didn’t you ?” asked Dorothy. 

“Well, I found eight ; did anybody get more than 
that?” 

No one had ; and Edith was congratulated. 

“Now guess, girls, what we’ve got for dessert?” 

“Apples?” 

“No — ^better than that!” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


147 


‘‘Cake?” 

“No-still better!” 

“Pie?” 

“Yes!” 

“What kind?” 

“Hot mince pie! We covered it up, and put it 
among the coals. But you’ve got to eat it with your 
fingers.” 

“That’s easy !” exclaimed Dorothy, as Ethel 
handed two pies to Miss Phillips to cut with Ma- 
rian’s pen-knife. 

“Ruth, you and Ethel are certainly dandies,” said 
Helen; “but do tell us how you ever got all this 
wonderful feed for two dollars !” 

“Well, we didn’t,” replied Ruth. “Mother sent 
me the pies this morning.” 

“And that accounts for the reason they are so 
good !” exclaimed Lily. “I thought you couldn’t get 
pies like these at the village bakery.” 

“Girls,” suggested Frances, “let’s write Mrs. 
Henry a note of thanks when we get back to school, 
and all sign it.” 

“Now Captain,” said Marian, after they had fin- 
ished eating, “do tell us about some of your plans 
for the troop.’' 

“Yes, do!” the others urged. 

“Well, next Friday we admit our new members. 


148 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


From then until spring vacation, we will practice for 
our play and work for the second class test. During 
spring vacation, we are to go to a big party at the 
Boy Scout cabin.^’ 

“How perfect!” exclaimed Ruth enthusiastically. 

“After vacation,” the Captain continued, “we will 
give our play and study for merit badge examina- 
tions, and take some hikes — maybe one over-night 
hike — learning about trees and flowers. And, if any 
of you girls want to go out for the Pioneer badge, 
the Boy Scouts said they would show us how to 
build a cabin.” 

“It would be wonderful to have our own cabin !” 
said Ethel. 

“And, of course, you know, after that comes va- 
cation and our week of camping. But nobody can 
go camping who is not at least a second-class scout.” 

“Oh, it’s all so exciting!” exclaimed Ruth. “I’m 
so glad I’m a Girl Scout !” 

“I’d be perfectly happy if Marjorie were in it, 
too !” sighed Lily. 

“Perhaps she will be soon,” said Frances, en- 
couragingly. “Let’s hope so!” 

Ruth blushed self-consciously at this remark, but 
no one noticed her embarrassment. She hastily 
changed the subject. “Tell us a story. Captain,” she 
suggested. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 149 

'What kind of story would you like ?” asked Miss 
Phillips. 

"Oh, one about the out-of-doors,” answered Ruth. 

"Well, we mustn’t sit here long — the fire is be- 
ginning to die; but I’ll tell you a story of Ernest 
Thompson Seton’s^ — it’s in his book called 'Two Lit- 
tle Savages,’ a boy^s book, but one which I think you 
girls would enjoy. 

"This story is about an Indian squaw, who was 
taken prisoner by some tribe way up north. They 
marched her five hundred miles away, but one night 
she escaped and set out, not on the home trail, for she 
knew they would follow that way and kill her, but to 
one side. She didn’t know the country and got lost. 
She had no weapons but a knife, and no food but 
berries. 

"She went as fast as she could for several days 
till a rainstorm came, and then she felt safe, because 
she knew her enemies could not trail her now. But 
winter was approaching, and she could not get home 
before it came. So she set to work right where she 
was. 

"Can you girls imagine yourselves in such a po- 
sition ? All alone in the woods — ^no shelter, no food, 
no extra clothing, and the cold weather coming on 
fast?” 


150 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Frances shuddered. *T guess most of us would 
soon give up and die she said. 

‘‘We probably would — though maybe not after 
we have learned the principles of Scouting. 

“Well, anyway, she made a wigwam of birch bark 
and a fire by rubbing sticks together, as you saw two 
of the Boy Scouts do, only she used the lace of her 
moccasin for a bow-string. She made snares of the 
inner bark of the willow and of spruce roots, and 
deadfalls, too, for rabbits. She was starving some- 
times, at first, but she ate the buds and inner bark 
of birch trees till she found a place where there were 
lots of rabbits. And when she caught some she used 
every scrap of them. She made a fishing-line of the 
sinews, and hook of the bones and teeth lashed to- 
gether with sinew and spruce gum. 

“She made a cloak of rabbit skins, sewed with 
needles of rabbit bone and thread of rabbit sinew, and 
a lot of dishes of birch bark sewed with spruce 
roots. 

“She spent the whole winter there alone, and when 
the spring came she was found by Samuel Hearne, 
the great traveler. Her precious knife was worn 
down, but she was fat, and happy, and ready to set 
out for her own people.” 

“And is that a true story?” asked Ruth, after a 
silence of a minute or two. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


151 


‘^Yes," replied Miss Phillips, ‘Vasn’t she wonder- 
ful?” 

The girls thanked their Captain for the interest- 
ing tale and Frances led in the Scout yell. 

They sang one or two of their favorite songs, as 
they put out the fire, and buried the tin cans and 
refuse they could not burn. Miss Phillips congratu- 
lated them on the appearance of the spot. “A Scout 
leaves the place in perfect order after she has camped 
there,” she said approvingly. 

It was a happy, weary crowd that trudged into 
school that night. But after they had bathed and 
dressed for dinner they felt better, though, as Lily 
remarked, *'glad that the next day was Sunday.” 

^‘And the day after is Monday,” said Marjorie, 
excitedly — ^*and we'll know our marks!” 


152 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER XVII 
Marjorie’s disappointment 

Morning exercises at Miss Allen’s always began 
with the singing of a hymn, followed by reading 
from the Bible by one of the teachers. No matter 
what events were to come after, this custom was 
never altered. 

Once in two months the students received their 
reports with due formality when everyone was in 
the assembly room. Miss Allen’s secretary carried 
the pile of white envelopes on to the platform ; and, 
after the religious exercises were concluded, the 
Principal read the names of the girls in the order of 
their averages, and they came forward to receive 
the reports. 

Up to this time, Marjorie had never been par- 
ticularly interested in the ceremony. She always 
wanted to pass, but she rather regarded those girls 
whose marks ranged from eighty to ninety per cent 
as a little '"queer”; they must be abnormal if they 
were more interested in mathematics and Latin than 
in hockey and cocoa-parties. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


153 


But this Monday morning after the Latin test, 
she felt that she had never cared about anything so 
much before as she cared for her term average. She 
was so nervous that she could have cried out while 
the girls droned through four stanzas of the hymn 
the music teacher had selected. She glanced appre- 
hensively at the secretary, but failed to see the usual 
pile of white envelopes on the chair beside her; then 
resolutely putting her doubts aside, she attempted to 
join in the singing. 

Finally it was over; Miss Allen rose and walked 
to the front of the platform. But, contrary to her 
usual custom, the secretary kept her seat. Some- 
thing was wrong; Marjorie sensed it even before 
Miss Allen began to explain. 

'‘Girls,” she said slowly, fingering her watch- 
chain, ‘T am very sorry to say that you will not re- 
ceive your marks until to-morrow. We received 
Miss White’s list of Latin test averages only to-day; 
so, even though Miss Smith will work on them all 
day in the office, we can’t have them ready before 
late this afternoon. But as soon as she has them 
made up, she will give the list of girls eligible for 
the Scout troop to Miss Phillips, and perhaps we 
can announce the new candidates at dinner to-night. 
But you may come to assembly to-morrow prepared 
to receive your reports.” 


154 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


When Miss Allen stopped speaking, Marjorie dis- 
covered that she was literally shaking all over. 
‘Why, I never cared half so much about making 
the sorority,’’ she said to herself. “I wonder if 
Ruth felt that way over it — and Lily, too! Poor 
girls 1 I wish I had been more sympathetic. But I 
didn’t understand.” 

No day ever seemed so long to Marjorie; but it 
went all too quickly for Ruth, who was glad to have 
the moment postponed when Marjorie learned of 
her disappointment. Once or twice she was inclined 
to regret her action, and her conscience told her that 
she had broken the Scout’s first law — that “her honor 
is to be trusted;” but she always succeeded in jus- 
tifying herself by thinking: “Marjorie was glad I 
didn’t make the sorority, and probably would have 
done the same thing to me if it had been necessary!” 
She remembered the house-party, and the dance, and 
Marjorie’s indifference during the past months ; and 
she gritted her teeth, and said she was glad for what 
she had done. 

She tried to avoid Marjorie, but as so often hap- 
pens, she met both Lily and Marjorie in the pool. 
Miss Phillips was sitting on the bench, superintend- 
ing the hour. 

“In about a month,” said Miss Phillips to the girls 
at the deep end, “after spring vacation, basket-ball 


!AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


155 


season starts. And then we play Miss Martin’s 
school; and if you girls don’t beat them this time — 
I believe I’ll resign!” 

Ruth was sitting on the edge of the diving-board, 
dangling her feet ; and Lily and Marjorie were mak- 
ing attempts to tread water, but every few minutes 
they reached for the side-rail. All the while they 
were listening to Miss Phillips. 

Marjorie looked frightened. ‘^Oh, don’t do that, 
Miss Phillips^ — why, we’d do anything to prevent 
that ! I do believe the whole school’d turn out every 
day to practice, if they thought that would prevent 
you from leaving!” 

“Thanks for the compliment,” said Miss Phillips. 
“But I really do think the girls have a different spirit 
now from last fall — not about me, but athletics and 
lessons; and it’s all because we have substituted a 
splendid, democratic, American organization for that 
sickly, snobbish, thing that used to exist — I mean 
OAB — to take the girls’ hearts, and their time and 
their money, and give them nothing in return!” 

“In other words,” said Ruth, proudly, “thanks to 
me!” 

“Yes, thanks to you, Ruth, and to Miss Allen, 
and to Mrs. Juliette Lowe — ^the founder of the Girl 
Scouts !” 

Noticing that Marjorie had seemed somewhat em- 


156 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


barrassed at her arraignment of the sorority, and 
was swimming off in the opposite direction, Miss 
Phillips added hastily : 

"‘And we're all hoping, Marjorie dear, that by this 
time to-morrow night you’ll be among the candi- 
dates. I’m only waiting for the list now.” 

Marjorie flushed with pleasure. It was something 
to be called "dear” by Miss Phillips even if she never 
made the troop. 

"Marjorie’s going to make it,” said Lily. "Why, 
with the way she’s studied, she couldn’t help ii.” 

Before the teacher could say anything further, a 
messenger from the office entered and handed her 
an envelope. Glancing hastily at its contents, she 
rose, and issued the command : "All out of the pool 1” 
and stood until the girls had filed out ; then she ex- 
tinguished the light, and went into her office. 

"And in five minutes she will know my fate,” 
whispered Marjorie to Lily, as the girls opened their 
lockers. 

Everybody was in high spirits at dinner that eve- 
ning; the girls were happy with expectation. And 
this feeling was greatly increased when Miss White 
entered in the middle of the meal with her coat and 
hat on, and showed plainly by her happy smile that 
everything was right at home. 

It was indeed a fitting time for Miss Allen to in- 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


15T 


form the lucky candidates of their election to the 
Girl Scout troop. 

‘‘Before I announce the names of the new candi- 
dates,” she said, “let me tell you that Miss Martin’s 
school is watching our Girl Scout troop carefully, 
and from our success will decide whether or not to 
start one of their own next year! It is a big re- 
sponsibility, girls ! I would like every student in my 
school to be a scout, if she would try to live up to 
the pledge and laws ; but at the same time, I want to 
keep the standard very high. So we are going 
slowly. 

“I am glad to announce to-night that eight girls — 
another whole patrol — have qualified ; and as I read 
the names I would like the girls to stand. 

“Senior — Lucy Graham. 

“Juniors — Elsie Lorimer, Emily Rankin, Mary 
Ridgeway. 

“Sophomores — Vivien Van Sciver, Ada Meams. 

“Freshmen — Anna Cane, Doris Sands.” 

Everybody clapped except Marjorie. She sat per- 
fectly still. The room seemed to go around and 
around ; and she thought she was going to faint. 

The girls all got up and pressed over to their 
friends to congratulate them. Somehow Marjorie 
realized that she should not sit any longer, and she 


158 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


stood up. But in a second Lily was by her side, her 
arm linked in hers. 

'"Come on out,’’ she said. ‘‘Don’t worry, Marj — 
surely there has been a mistake! Wait till you get 
your report.” 

She literally led Marjorie to their room. When 
they reached it, and Lily had closed the door, the 
unhappy girl threw herself on her cot, weeping. 
Lily was unable to console her. 

“It’s no use,” sobbed Marjorie. “I have failed in 
my Latin. I guess I tried too hard ; I must have been 
nervous, and put down the wrong things.” She hid 
her face in the pillow. 

In a few minutes, a knock sounded at the door, 
and Lily opened it, preparing to say that Marjorie 
had a headache, and to ask the guest to call again. 
But it was Miss Phillips. 

“Come in,’^ said Lily quietly. Approaching her 
room-mate’s cot, she leaned over and said, “It’s 
Miss Phillips, Marjorie, to see you. Please excuse 
me,” she added discreetly, “I must go to the li- 
brary.” 

The next half-hour was one of those short but 
important times that always stood out in Marjorie’s 
memory. Miss Phillips sat down beside her, and 
taking her hand, told her it was not a mistake — that 
her Latin mark was so low that she had all but failed. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


159 


And then she related an instance in her own life, 
when she had wanted so much to succeed in an under- 
taking — it was the passing of a physical training 
exam; — she had failed, and her money had given 
out; she had been forced to give up her plans and 
go to work in an office. 

‘'But it was my Sunday-School teacher,” she said, 
“who made me hold on to my ideal, and succeed at 
last ; and I guess I was better equipped in the end.” 

Marjorie seemed calmer now, so Miss Phillips con- 
tinued in her soft voice : 

“I shall never forget that poem of Edwin Mark- 
am’s — do you know his work, Marjorie? — ^that my 
teacher read to me at the time : 

“ ‘Defeat may serve as well as victory 
To shake the soul and let the glory out. 

When the great oak is straining in the wind, 
The boughs drink in new beauty, and the trunk 
Sends down a deeper root on the windward side. 
Only the soul that knows the mighty grief 
Can know the mighty rapture. Sorrows come 
To stretch out spaces in the heart for joy.’ 

“And I believe sometimes that defeat is just the 
thing we need.” 

Miss Phillips talked a long time with Marjorie, 


160 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


and held before her a new race to pursue; so that 
when Lily came back from the library and the 
teacher rose to go, Marjorie seemed quite happy, 
and promised to try again. 

The next day she received her report with sixty- 
six in Latin ; but she never saw her paper, for Miss 
White had burned it with the others after she had 
copied the marks and sent them to Miss Allen. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


161 


CHAPTER XVIII 

THE SECOND-CLASS TEST 

The new Scout candidates soon passed their Ten- 
derfoot test, and registered at National Headquar- 
ters as regular members of Pansy troop. Lucy Gra- 
ham, the senior, was elected patrol leader of the 
new patrol, and Doris Sands received the office of 
corporal. 

The last meeting before spring vacation was held. 
After the usual preliminary business had been con- 
cluded, Captain Phillips said that she had several 
interesting announcements to make. 

'To-morrow, she said, “instead of our usual 
outing, we are going down in the village to Mrs. 
Burd’s house to cook our own supper. You know 
every girl has to cook something satisfactorily as 
a part of her second-class test; and I wasn’t quite 
sure how to give you the opportunity, when my friend 
Mrs. Burd came to the rescue, and offered us her 
kitchen for to-morrow night, while she and the rest 
of her family are away. 

"Now,” she continued, after the girls had dis- 


162 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


cussed her proposition for several minutes, ‘T have 
something to tell you that I know will interest you 
all. I have chosen the play we are going to give after 
spring vacation!’’ 

‘^Oh, what is it?” cried Ruth informally, forget- 
ting the usual ceremony of address. 

But Miss Phillips did not notice the departure 
from discipline. Perhaps too, she was too much in- 
terested in her subject to be aware of it. 

‘‘ ‘Everygirl,’ ” she replied, holding up a copy of 
the play. think you are going to like it; and if 
you do well with it, it will surely bring credit to the 
whole school!” 

She opened the pamphlet she was holding, and 
read off a list of symbolic characters. ‘'Of course 
the play is an allegory; ‘Everygirl’ just represents 
any girl, who meets with good and evil, and who has 
to choose her conipanions and her course through 
life. There are a good many parts to the play, so I 
hope you will all be able to be in it. Of course, the 
main part is that of Everygirl, the heroine.” 

“Captain,” said Frances, rising and saluting, 
“please tell me how you are going to select the girls 
for the parts, and whether we shall be able to study 
them over spring vacation.” 

“I am going to select the characters at a try-out 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


163 


to-morrow afternoon ; so will everybody please come 
to the Gym right after lunch?” 

‘T used to be in plays at home,” remarked Ruth* 

suppose that will help, won’t it ?” 

‘We’ll see to-morrow,” replied Miss Phillips. 
“Now, one thing more before we take our second- 
class tests : I want to arrange about our cabin party 
with the Boy Scouts. School reopens April fifteenth, 
which is on Wednesday; so all the Girl Scouts are to 
come back here on Tuesday morning. Get here be- 
fore twelve o’clock. The housekeeper, Mrs. Rock, 
is going to give us a light lunch, and we are to change 
into our scout uniforms, take a trolley to Bear’s 
Hill and hike to the cabin. Each girl is to bring her 
own mess-kit, and wear warm clothes; the Boy 
Scouts prepare the rest.” 

Ruth’s eyes danced. “How many Boy Scouts are 
there?” she asked. 

“I think they have a full troop — four patrols — 
thirty-two boys — but they are going to take only the 
sixteen with the highest standing. Their Scout- 
m’aster, Mr. Remington, told me all the boys were 
crazy to go; but he didn’t want their numbers to 
overwhelm us. Now, girls, unless there are some 
important questions, we will not talk about these 
things any longer, but will prepare to take the writ- 
ten part of the second-class test. And before I for- 


164 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


get it, will you bring your samples of sewing, cro- 
cheting, and knitting over to the Gym to-morrow 
afternoon for me to examine. Then after supper 
to-morrow night, I ought to be able to announce the 
names of the girls who have passed the test.” 

Ethel arose excitedly. ‘^Captain,” she said, ‘'the 
handbook says we need submit either knitting or 
crocheting; so we don’t have to bring both, do we?” 

“Scout Todd,” answered Miss Phillips, “if you 
remember correctly, I announced several months 
ago, that no girl in Pansy troop could become a sec- 
ond-class scout without submitting samples of both 
knitting and crocheting. You all know our stand- 
ards are very high, and Miss Allen and I both 
agreed that in all the cases where the handbook 
gave a choice of two alternatives, we would require 
both. It is entirely fair, because it is the same for 
everybody. Do you understand?” 

Ruth sat perfectly still ; but she saw her hopes of 
wearing the green clover badge home at vacation 
fading, for though she knit splendidly, she had 
never done a stitch of crocheting in her life. 

Miss Phillips distributed the paper, and the girls 
gave their attention to the written part of the test. 

As they were getting ready for lunch the next, 
day, Ethel asked Ruth whether she could crochet. 

“Yes,” replied Ruth, after a slight hesitation. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


165 


"And have you something ready to take this 
afternoon?” 

Ruth opened her drawer, and took out a square of 
filet. "I haven’t done much of it, but I guess it’s 
enough to show Captain Phillips what I can do!” 

"How pretty,” said Ethel admiringly. "Oh, Ruth, 
couldn’t you teach me ; I do so want to get that sec- 
ond-class badge !” 

"I’d love to,” replied Ruth; "but I can’t before 
to-night, because it’s pretty hard to learn, and I want 
to practice for the play. I think I stand some chance 
of getting the heroine’s part, if I read it over sev- 
eral times. But I wouldn’t if Marj Wilkinson were 
in the troop. She’s a peach at dramatics 1” 

Ethel was disappointed, but decided to wait until 
spring vacation to learn. She was not, however, the 
only girl to fail to win the second-class badge for 
this reason. When the scouts met a few hours later 
in the Gym, it transpired that Ruth and two others 
were the only ones to produce samples of their 
work. 

"May I have my crocheting back as soon as you 
have inspected it. Captain ?” asked Ruth. "I want to 
work on it.” 

"Certainly,” replied Miss Phillips, "you can have 
it now, for that matter.” 

The try-outs for the play lasted all afternoon; 


166 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


after each girl read a number of different parts, 
Miss Phillips excused them; but most of the girls 
preferred to wait to hear the results of the Cap- 
tain’s decisions. Finally, a little before five o’clock, 
she read the characters as she had selected them, and 
Ruth was disappointed to hear that Helen Stewart 
was awarded the part of '^Everygirl.” Her com- 
panions crowded around her with congratulations; 
and Ruth, who had resolutely put her own feelings 
aside, remembering that ‘^a scout is cheerful,” was 
among them. 

In less than half an hour’s time, the girls re-as- 
sembled to accompany Miss Phillips to Mrs. Burd’s 
home. They found it charming, just the sort of 
house a girl dreams of having some day — ^with 
everything bright, and shining, and new. The 
kitchen was small, but several of the girls took their 
work into the shed or the dining-room, so that all 
of the sixteen scouts were never in it at once. 

Miss Phillips had very cleverly prepared a menu 
that required many extras; there was soup, two 
vegetables, cream sauce and gravy, salad, salad- 
dressing, muffins, cocoa, and dessert ; so that all the 
girls had the opportunity to show their skill in cook- 
ing. Miss Phillips directed the work, which was 
fortunate for such inexperienced cooks, and every- 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 167 

thing turned out splendidly. The dinner was a great 
success. 

As soon as the soup was on the table, the girls 
took off their aprons and sat down ; each course was 
served by the girls who had prepared it. The ap- 
petizing smell of the food, and the excitement of 
the experiment, made them all hungry ; they laughed 
and chatted gaily as they ate, their flushed faces tes- 
tifying the joy of their success. 

When dessert had been served. Miss Phillips said, 
*T certainly want to congratulate you all on your 
splendid dinner. I can see already that no man who 
marries a Girl Scout of Pansy troop ever need worry 
about his future happiness.” 

The girls laughed, and Ethel looked significantly 
at Doris, as if to indicate that she would probably 
be the first to have the chance to prove this fact. 

‘T wish I could pass you all on every part of your 
second-class test,” continued Miss Phillips, “as eas- 
ily as I can on your cooking. But unfortunately, I 
can award only three green clovers to-night: to 
Helen Stewart, Ruth Henry, and Doris Sands!” 

She paused while the girls clapped. Producing 
three badges from the pocket of her uniform, she 
requested the three girls to stand up. 

“We will have the formal ceremony the first Fri- 
day after spring vacation ; but I know that you girls 


168 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


are anxious to wear your badges at the cabin party, 
so I am going to give them to you now. Sew them 
on your left sleeve,’’ she concluded. 

After the dishes had been cleared away, and the 
dining-room and kitchen made spotless, the girls 
sang some songs around the piano in the living-room, 
and then proceeded to get ready to go back to the 
school. 

‘The plays will be here by Monday,” said Miss 
Phillips, as she bade the girls good night. “Be sure 
to get your copies to take home with you.” 

The next morning Ruth told Ethel that she had a 
headache, and intended to ask for permission to stay 
away from church. 

“Too much party, I guess,” said Ethel, as she put 
on her hat. “You better lie down till noon!” 

But it was not the result of the party that was 
keeping Ruth at home ; she had an important errand 
to perform, for which she needed the desertion of 
Sunday morning. 

She waited until all was quiet in the hall; then 
taking a small article out of her bureau drawer, she 
walked quickly over to Marjorie’s room. She was 
so sure that the latter would be at church, that she 
opened the door without knocking. To her great 
surprise, Marjorie suddenly sat up in bed. 

“Hullo, Ruth 1” she exclaimed. “What time is it ? 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


169 


I guess I must have overslept! Lily went over to 
stay all night with Helen Stewart, so I hadn’t any- 
body to waken me.” 

Ruth was extremely taken back by Marjorie’s 
presence, but concealed her embarrassment, and took 
advantage of the other girl’s sleepiness to drop, un- 
noticed, the article she held in her hand behind one 
of the pillows on Lily’s cot. 

“It’s after eleven o’clock! You’ll never make 
church now !” she said. 

“Eleven o’clock!” cried Marjorie, jumping out of 
bed. “Oh, my goodness, another unexcused ab- 
sence !” 

“Marj,” said Ruth slowly, “can I borrow your 
‘Tales from Shakespeare’? I got permission to 
stay home for a headache ; but I’m better now, and I 
want to look up something.” 

“Surely — it’s down on the bottom shelf. You 
don’t mind if I hurry?” 

“No, indeed ; I have to go anyhow. Good luck to 
you ! Good-bye !” 

When Marjorie and Lily returned together from 
church at noon, the first thing that struck Lily’s eye 
after she sat down on her cot was Marjorie’s lost 
crocheting. 

“Here’s your square of filet, Marj!” she ex- 
claimed, picking up the piece. “It was behind the 


170 THE GIRL SCOUTS 

pillow ! I wonder how long it’s been there — and we 
never saw it!” 

‘‘But I did look there, before,” protested Mar- 
jorie. “Anyway,” she added, putting it into her 
work bag, “Fm glad to have it to take home with 
me.” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


171 


CHAPTER XIX 

THE BOY SCOUTS ENTERTAIN 

When the girls were ready to take the train which 
was to carry them home for the spring holidays, it 
was Ruth who desired to avoid Marjorie’s company. 
But she was not so successful as the latter had been 
on their last journey; probably this was due to the 
fact that she was not foresighted enough to secure 
an early dismissal. 

The girls boarded the train together; but Mar- 
jorie sat with Lily as far as the Junction. When, 
however, the time to change trains arrived, Ruth 
found herself alone on the station platform with 
Marjorie. There was nothing to do but be sociable ; 
besides, Marjorie must not suspect that anything had 
happened in their relationship to alter their friendli- 
ness. 

The coach they entered was comparatively empty ; 
Marjorie chose a seat by the window, and Ruth sat 
down beside her. 

“I believe Til do my crocheting,” said Marjorie, 
opening her velvet hand-bag, and taking out a square 


172 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


of filet that was all too familiar to Ruth. ‘T lost it 
last week behind Lily’s cot, and I haven’t done nearly 
so much as I wanted to. I’m making a camisole top 
for Miss Phillips for her birthday; do you think 
she’ll like it?” 

Ruth’s face became scarlet. Fortunately for her, 
the other girl was too busy with her work to no- 
tice. She leaned over, and pretended to button her 
spat. 

‘‘Yes, it’s lovely, Marj,” she replied. “When is 
her birthday?” 

“It’s the sixteenth of April; I want to give it to 
her the day we get back. Would you buy the silk 
and make it up, or give it to her just as it is?” 

The girls discussed the matter, and Ruth sug- 
gested a way of making it. 

“If I come over next week,” asked Ruth, “will 
you show me that pattern? I’d like to make it for 
mother.” 

“Certainly; I never knew you could crochet till 
Lily told me you and Helen and Doris were the only 
ones in the troop who won their second-class badges 
on that account.’^ 

“Yes,” said Ruth, quite composed by now, “I 
learned the last time I was home. You see I didn’t 
have any house-party to keep me busy, so I thought 
I might as well do something useful !” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


173 


The conversation drifted to swimming, and basket- 
ball, and finally to the Girl Scout troop. Ruth could 
not refrain from telling Marjorie all about the good 
times that were in store for her. 

‘‘But maybe you’ll be a scout before the play 
comes off, Marj,” she suggested. 

“How many more times do you think the troop 
will take in new members this year?” 

“Only once, I guess — but then Fm not sure. But 
of course nobody can go camping who isn’t at least 
a second-class scout.” 

“Don’t worry about that ! If I ever get in, I won’t 
stop till I’m a first-c\a.ss scout!” said Marjorie em- 
phatically. 

“It would be fun to race to see who won it first, 
if you were only in the troop,” observed Ruth. 

Marjorie folded up her crocheting and looked dis- 
mally out of the window. “Sometimes I think I’ll 
never make it ; I don’t know how to work any harder 
than I did for that last Latin test.” 

“Oh, I guess you must have been nervous. I’ll bet 
you know as much as I do now about prose compo- 
sition. But you simply lost your head.” 

“Maybe I did.” 

“Be a sport, and try again — get Jack to help you ; 
he ought to be able to, he’s a year ahead of you.” 

“Here we are at last!” cried Marjorie, jumping 


174 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


up and reaching for her bag. “And here are our 
families to meet us 

Mrs. Wilkinson was obviously glad to see the girls 
together again ; and Mrs. Henry tried to conceal the 
feeling of pride she experienced at the thought of 
her own daughter’s success compared with the other 
girl’s failure. 

“A good deal has happened since Christmas, hasn’t 
it, Marjorie?” said Mrs. Wilkinson, after they were 
comfortably seated in the machine. 

“Yes,” answered Marjorie, “I’m no longer a so- 
rority girl.” 

“So I understand — but are you a Girl Scout?” 

“Not yet; my Latin ” 

“Oh, yes, I know ; you’ll surely be able to pull that 
up soon if ” 

“Did Ruth make the troop?” interrupted Jack. 

“Yes ; she’s a second-class scout already.” 

“Good for her!” said Jack. “I got my pin on 
Friday night,” he added proudly. 

“Oh, Jack, I’m so glad ! Did Roger make it, too ?” 

“Yes — we’re both in the troop now.” 

“So is Doris,” laughed Marjorie. 

The holidays passed rather quietly for Marjorie ; 
she studied from a Latin book she had brought home 
with her, and worked on her crochet. True to her 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


175 


promise, Ruth came over to copy her pattern, and 
proved her ability in the new accomplishment. 

Ruth and Jack discussed the party at the cabin; 
but Jack regretted that both he and Roger were too 
new to be included among the lucky participants. 

It was with a very heavy heart that Marjorie 
watched Ruth pass her house the Tuesday before 
school re-opened, bound for the cabin party of the 
scouts. Jack rushed out to carry her suitcase to the 
station; and Marjorie wiped away a tear as she 
turned again to her Latin grammar. 

The Girl Scouts met in the dining-room, and made 
a pretence at eating the lunch Mrs. Rock had pro- 
vided. But they were all too impatient to get started 
to care to waste any unnecessary time ; so after fif- 
teen minutes had elapsed. Miss Phillips announced 
her intention of starting. 

When the girls got off the trolley at the foot of 
Bear’s Hill, they found two of the Boy Scouts wait- 
ing for them. As they came forward, the girls of 
the first patrol identified them as David Conner and 
Russell Henderson. 

After the usual ceremony of greeting, David said : 

'^Our boys have laid a trail for you to follow; if 
you don’t miss any of the signals, we ought to reach 
the cabin in fifteen minutes’ time!” 

The girls were glad of their former experience in 


176 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


following a trail, and succeeded in discovering all 
the signs and keeping on the path indicated. Once 
or twice they found little notes of direction; but 
aside from these, the signals were identical with 
those Miss Phillips had taught them. 

Part of the way, David walked with Ethel. 'Tsn’t 
Miss Wilkinson a scout yet?” he asked. 

‘‘No,” replied Ethel; “she lost out again!” 

“Somebody^s going to be disappointed,” remarked 
David, beginning to whistle. 

“Somebody else I know never gets left when 
there’s a girl around!” exclaimed a voice behind 
them, which David identified as Russell’s without 
looking around. 

In a few minutes, the party came in sight of the 
cabin. Before they could distinguish it from the 
trees that surrounded it, they saw two red and 
white flags sending a message of “Welcome Girl 
Scouts !” 

“Hadley’s on the job, as usual,” muttered Russell, 
as the girls who knew the code interpreted the mes- 
sage to the others. 

The cabin was built of logs, and surrounded by 
tall trees. The brush had been cleared away, leaving 
an open space in front large enough for the scouts 
to build an oven, and to arrange an out-door eating 
place. The spring ran below the cabin. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


177 


The other boys who had visited Miss Allen’s came 
forward and greeted the girls, and introduced the 
rest of the scouts and Mr. Remington, the Scout- 
master. Several of the boys conducted their guests 
to the inside of the cabin, where they removed their 
heavier wraps. 

The interior of the cabin, which had a stone fire- 
place and a wooden floor, was fixed up attractively 
with box furniture made by the boys themselves. 
Several shelves in one corner held the supplies. 

'Tt’s lovely!” exclaimed Ethel enthusiastically, as 
she sat down on the bench in front of the fireplace. 

‘‘Where do you sleep?” asked Lily, with a puz- 
zled look. “Surely sixteen boys couldn’t all find 
room on the floor 1” 

“We sleep in tents, when we stay here all night,” 
said John. “Except, of course, when a candidate is 
sent out here on probation; then he sleeps on that 
cot!” 

Mr. Remington appeared at the doorway. “As 
soon as you get rested, we want to play some scout 
games,” he said. 

All the scouts, except the squad who were prepar- 
ing the dinner, played games until almost dusk ; then 
a whistle signal sounded which John interpreted as 
“get ready for mess,” and the girls followed Miss 


178 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


Phillips to the stream to wash and make themselves 
presentable for supper. 

The supper was a splendid one — much more pre- 
tentious than that which represented the girls’ usual 
idea of a camp mess. There was broiled steak, baked 
potatoes, baked beans, cocoa, rolls, and chocolate 
cake. 

‘T never knew boys could cook like this!” said 
Frances. “Why, it’s wonderful!” 

The girls wanted to help clear things away, but 
their offer was refused. Two or three of the boys 
built up the fire, and in a few minutes everyone was 
grouped around it, singing and talking. 

John Hadley came over and sat beside Doris. 

“It’s too bad Roger couldn’t be here to-night,” he 
said, “but you see he’s one of the newer members 
of the troop. I daresay you’ll see him at the next 
party.” 

Doris laughed gaily. “Don’t worry about me, 
Mr. Hadley,” she said. “I’m having a wonderful 
time.” 

But with her naturally sympathetic disposition, 
she was quick to realize that John was not so happy, 
and she tactfully turned the conversation in the di- 
rection in which he was interested — namely, to Mar- 
jorie. She explained as well as she could about 
Marjorie’s failure; but as she never had been able 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


179 


to understand it herself, she was not very success- 
ful in convincing John of the cause 

About eight o’clock, Mr. Remington called for 
“stunts,” and started by telling a funny story him- 
self; Miss Phillips followed with a negro song in 
dialect; Ruth and Ethel gave a dialogue; and sev- 
eral of the boys performed gymnastic feats. 

At nine o’clock, Miss Phillips reluctantly rose to 
go. She thanked the boys and invited them to the 
play. “And some day,” she added, “we want to 
entertain you.” 

“Our boys wish to offer the Girl Scouts of Pansy 
troop the use of our cabin and its equipment for a 
week this summer,” said Mr. Remington, after he 
had acknowledged Miss Phillips’s invitations. 

The girls all clapped; it seemed too wonderful to 
be true. 

“The nicest time I ever had in my life!” said 
Lily, as they were riding home on the trolley. But 
she added the phrase which Ruth had come to hate : 
“If only Marjorie could have come along!” 


180 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER XX 
Marjorie's suspicions 

When the scouts reached the school, they found 
a number of the other girls back from their holidays. 
But the halls seemed strangely quiet and deserted; 
and when Lily reached her room, she was overcome 
by a feeling of loneliness. 

*T wish Marjorie were here," she thought. ‘T'd 
love to tell her all about the party, and John's dis- 
appointment at not seeing her." 

And then she began to wonder how it would feel 
to have a boy really crazy about her; she had al- 
ways been too fat and unattractive to make many 
friends among the opposite sex; and being an only 
child, without any brothers to introduce other boys 
to her, she always spent much of her holidays alone. 
And, for the first time in her life, she realized what 
she had missed; she felt that other girls were enjoy- 
ing privileges that she had never known. She had 
scarcely spoken more than six words to any boy at 
the party, and yet she noticed Doris and Ruth chat- 
ting and laughing with almost all the boys as if they 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


181 


had known them all their lives. What was the se- 
cret? Marjorie must know; she had a brother — 
she would be able to tell her what interested them. 

Marjorie did not return to the school until the 
next morning, just in time for opening assembly. 
Lily did not, therefore, have a chance to talk with 
her until lunch, and then she suddenly discovered 
that she was too shy, or perhaps too proud, to ask 
such a question. 

‘T thought you’d be back yesterday,” she said, 
as she was getting ready for lunch. 

‘T would have, only I knew all my friends would 
be away at the party,” said Marjorie. ^‘Besides, I 
wanted to finish Miss Phillips’ camisole.” 

^'Oh, let me see it,” cried Lily. '"When will you 
give it to her?” 

‘‘To-morrow morning, I guess, before breakfast, 
if I can catch her in time. I would like to wish her 
a happy birthday the very first thing!” 

The girls linked arms, and went into the dining- 
room together, glad of the opportunity to talk with 
each other again. Ethel Todd, who sat at the same 
table with them, leaned towards Marjorie. Lower- 
ing her voice, and glancing in the direction of Miss 
Phillips’ table, she said: 

“The scouts are going to give Miss Phillips a sur- 
prise party to-morrow night, in honor of her birth- 


182 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


day; and, Marj, we want you in it, too. We got 
permission from Miss Allen. Meet at half-past eight 
in our room. You can bring a birthday present if 
you want, but you don’t have to. Then we’re all 
going over and sing a little song Frances wrote in 
her honor — a parody on 'Perfect Day’ — and go into 
her room with our presents and refreshments. Ruth 
and Doris are buying everything; the tax will be 
about a quarter apiece. You’re both in for it?” 

"Yes, indeed!” answered Lily. 

Marjorie hesitated. "I’d love to,” she said, "but 
it doesn’t seem exactly right. I’m not a Girl Scout !” 

"Nonsense!” exclaimed Ethel. "If there is any- 
thing that isn’t right about it, it’s that you aren’t a 
Girl Scout. I’d like to have seen that Latin paper ! 
I’ll bet Miss White was all fussed about her mother 
being sick, and marked it wrong, or else got it mixed 
up with some other girl’s paper!” 

"You know I have sometimes wondered about that 
myself,” said Marjorie. "And especially since I 
went over the past lessons during spring vacation. 

I can’t remember putting the wrong things down. 
But it is too late now, of course, even if there had 
been a mistake.” 

"Why don’t you ask for another test?” asked 
Ethel. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


183 


‘*Oh, I couldn’t do that! Fit just have to wait 
till the end of the year now.” 

‘'And lose out on the camping trip!” exclaimed 
Lily resentfully. “It just doesn’t seem fair!” 

“Well, go to the party anyway,” pleaded Ethel; 
“thank goodness, Latin can’t keep you away from 
that!” 

The girls had difficulty in keeping their secret from 
Miss Phillips, but with a great deal of effort, they 
managed to do it. It was fortunate, however, that 
there was no scout meeting before the event, or 
somebody would have been sure to give the plan 
away. But, as it was, she was completely surprised. 

She was sitting alone at her desk writing a letter, 
when, as the scouts had arranged, one of the maids 
knocked at her door and handed her a box. Miss 
Phillips wrinkled her brows. “Who sent it?” she 
asked. 

“Some friends who would like to come in to see 
you,” she answered. “What shall I tell them?” 

“I’ll be delighted, of course. Are they some of 
my girls ?” 

At this moment, the girls jumped out from around 
the corridor and rushed up to Miss Phillips, con- 
gratulating her and wishing her many happy re- 
turns of the day. While she untied the box, Ethel 
closed the door, and Frances led in the parody of 


184 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


the song, which the girls sang softly, but distinctly. 

‘^Roses!’^ exclaimed Miss Phillips, lifting them 
out of the box. ‘^My favorite flowers!’^ 

After the girls had seated themselves. Miss Phil- 
lips was handed her presents. She received candy, 
gloves, handkerchiefs, and fancy collars. Noticing 
the particular package which Marjorie had given 
her, she left it till last to open. 

“Just what I wanted !” she said, delighted, as she 
examined the camisole closely. “Did you do all 
that for me 

Marjorie nodded, and Ruth began to look after 
the refreshments, in order to hide her embarrass- 
ment. 

“That certainly is a pretty pattern,” continued 
Miss Phillips. “Why, I believe it is the same one 
Ruth has been making, isn't it?” 

Ruth flushed, but answered unconcernedly, “Yes, 
I am making a night-gown yoke for mother. Mar- 
jorie let me copy it.” 

“Yes, I remember, that was the piece I examined 
for your second-class test.” 

Marjorie opened her mouth in speechless amaze- 
ment. What did all this mean ? Ruth had only be- 
gun this pattern while she was at home for the holi- 
days — and yet she had passed the test several days 
before she left! She glanced at Ruth, who was 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


185 


handing around the cake in a most indifferent man- 
ner. There must be some mistake — Miss Phillips 
must have forgotten. 

After the girls had eaten, they sang once more 
the song to Miss Phillips, and went out quietly. 

When Marjorie reached her room, she asked as 
casually as she could, “Do you remember when I first 
missed my crocheting, Lily?’’ 

Lily tried to think. “It must have been Saturday 
before we went home, Marj ; for you were doing it 
Friday night while we were at scout meeting. 
Why?” 

“Oh, nothing — I just wondered. And you found 
it Sunday, didn’t you?” 

“Yes, when we came home from church. Aren’t 
you glad, though? I think Miss Phillips liked your 
present best of all, Marj 1” 

“Thank you, Lily,” said Marjorie absently. But 
over and over in her mind she repeated: 

“And a Girl Scout’s honor is to be trusted 1” 


186 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


CHAPTER XXI 

THE BASKET-BALL GAME 

It is natural for the younger girls of a school to 
look up to those in the upper classes — for the fresh- 
men to make one of the juniors or seniors her ideal ; 
and it is likewise usual to find the younger girl ad- 
miring the older boys she happens to meet. Partly 
for this reason, perhaps, and partly because he was 
both genial and attractive, Ruth conceived a violent 
admiration for John Hadley. She had considered 
him the best-looking scout at the demonstration in 
January; now, after the party at the cabin, she ad- 
mitted to herself that she was really ‘‘crazy about 
him.” True, she had not seen much of him at the 
party, for he sat beside Doris after the games were 
over ; but she knew that Doris was pretty well smit- 
ten with Roger Harris, and did not allow the possi- 
bility of her interference to worry her. She had 
never heard Marjorie speak of him, and she had no 
idea that his interest lay in that direction. 

She knew that this year was John's last at the 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


18 T 


academy, so she planned to see more of him before 
it was too late. 

“Why don’t you ask Jack to go over to Miss Mar- 
tin’s to our basket-ball game with them, and take 
some of his friends?” asked Ruth of Marjorie, a 
week before the date for which the event was sched- 
uled. “Miss Allen said the boys would be allowed 
to attend.” 

“Oh, I don’t know; I’ve been too busy to think 
about it!” 

Marjorie, because she was both tall and quick, had 
been chosen for the position of jumping-center on 
the school team. She had been going out regularly 
to the practices in the field (the girls at Miss Allen’s 
played out-door basket-ball), and she was in splen- 
did trim for the game. Her cheeks glowed and her 
eyes sparkled while she played ; had she been a vain 
girl, she would have realized that under no other 
circumstance could she appear so attractive. 

“Go on — write to Jack!” pleaded Ruth. “Why, 
he’d love to see you play. Ask him to bring some 
of the other scouts!” 

“But I wouldn’t be able to look after them ! I’m 
in the game !” 

“Of course — that’s why he ought to be allowed 
to come. I’ll entertain them, and ask Doris to 
help.” 


188 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


“All right/' agreed Marjorie. “Who else shall 
I suggest?" 

“Roger Harris, of course, for Doris, and any- 
body else. How about the senior patrol leader — 
what was his name?" 

Marjorie blushed. “John Hadley?" 

“Yes; why not?" 

“All right; but I guess Til tell Jack to take who- 
ever he wants." 

The game was scheduled for the second Saturday 
in May. All of the girls on the team, except Mar- 
jorie, were Girl Scouts — Ethel Todd and Edith 
Evans played forward, Ada Mearns and Dorothy 
Maxwell were the guards, and Frances Wright acted 
as side center. Incidentally, Marjorie was the only 
freshman on the team, although one other girl of 
her own class served as a substitute. 

Jack accepted his sister's suggestion gladly; he 
wrote that he would arrive at Miss Martin's school 
with John and Roger immediately after lunch. 

Marjorie took the letter to Ruth. “It's your 
party," she said. “I won't even be able to meet 
them. Miss Phillips is going to take us over early 
to get a chance to try the field ; and then Miss Mar- 
tin's team is giving us a special lunch in their gym." 

“All right," agreed Ruth; “I’ll look after them. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


189 


By the way, is there any girl Jack specially likes, so 
I could invite her to go with Doris and me?” 

Marjorie laughed. 'T think he always ^specially 
liked’ you, Ruth!” 

‘‘No, I mean somebody else. He met some of the 
girls at your dance.” 

Marjorie tried to think. Finally she shook her 
head. 

“Fm afraid there isn’t, Ruth; ask whoever else 
you please to sit with you. All I know is, I can’t !” 

Ruth decided to ask Evelyn Hopkins. The latter 
had not made the Girl Scout troop ; and in fact she 
had been left out of almost everything lately. Ruth 
felt sorry for her, and hoped by this invitation to 
make up for neglecting her during the past month 
or two. 

Miss Martin sent over the request that the Girl 
Scouts wear their uniforms. Ruth was somewhat 
annoyed at the idea. “Who wants to dress up in a 
hot khaki suit this time of year?” she complained. 
But Miss Phillips had issued the order, and all the 
scouts had to obey. 

Ruth, Doris, and Evelyn got permission to leave 
the rest of the students while they went in search 
of the boys. They met them at the gate, and Ruth 
introduced Evelyn. 

Ruth had tried to arrange matters so that Jack 


190 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


would walk with Evelyn, and Roger with Doris, so 
that John Hadley would be left to accompany her. 
But her plans went wrong. John immediately at- 
tached himself to Doris, who had started on with 
Roger, so Evelyn and Ruth were both forced to 
walk with Jack. 

When the party reached the basket-ball field, Ruth 
decided to take matters in her own hands. 

‘‘Mr. Hadley,’’ she said, laughing, “I am afraid I 
shall have to scold you. Can’t you see that Roger 
and Doris want to be together?” 

“Oh, I beg their pardon !” said John apologetically. 
“I really forgot.” 

“Nonsense!” exclaimed Doris. “Please don’t be 
silly!” 

But they discovered that they could not all sit 
together, and Ruth saw to it that Doris and Roger 
took the seats ahead, and she and Evelyn sat between 
Jack and John. She smiled happily. At last she 
was with him. 

All the Girl Scouts except Ruth and Doris, and 
those taking part in the game, occupied a bench to- 
gether; in their neat, trim uniforms they presented 
an attractive appearance. John remarked about it, 
and Ruth saw him looking closely at the girls. 

“Is Marjorie Wilkinson a member of the troopi 
now ?” he asked. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


191 


Ruth laughed. ‘‘No, poor girl, she isn’t ! It’s a 
shame, too, for she tries so hard. But she’s hopeless 
in Latin !” 

John sighed, thinking of his remaining month at 
Episcopal. “I’ll never see her again,” he kept think- 
ing to himself, “unless I suddenly develop a violent 
friendship with Jack!” 

The referee blew the whistle and the contestants 
appeared. The forwards grouped themselves around 
the baskets, and practiced throwing for goals; the 
rest of the girls gathered in separate spots to go 
over a few last points. 

Marjorie realized that she was a different girl 
from the one who had played forward on the hockey- 
team last fall. She came to this game with Miss 
Martin’s in perfect physical condition, and with the 
consciousness of good practices behind her. And, 
added to this, she felt a new love for Miss Phillips ; 
she knew how much her teacher cared for the vic- 
tory, and she meant to do all in her power to win it. 

John regarded her all the while intently; he 
scarcely listened to the conversation Ruth and Evelyn 
were holding with Jack. 

In a few moments the game started. Marjorie 
had the advantage of being taller than the opposing 
center; besides this, she had arranged for signals 
with Frances and her forwards, so that her efforts 


192 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


in getting the ball to her team immediately after the 
toss-up were almost always successful. 

With this advantage, the audience thought the 
game was going to prove to be a walk-over for Miss 
Allen's team. But such was not the case. The 
guards who played against Ethel and Edith were 
splendid; they succeeded in keeping the forwards 
from scoring for nearly five minutes, at the end of 
which time they finally sent the ball to the other end 
of the field. 

But if the guards on Miss Martin's team had been 
good, those on Miss Allen's proved equally efficient. 
Again, these forwards were powerless. The only 
real chance that was given to Miss Martin's side 
to score was when Dorothy Maxwell made a foul, 
and gave the forward a free throw; but the girl 
missed the basket, the whistle blew, and the score 
remained o-o. 

During the intermission, the spectators cheered 
loudly for both sides, and the Gym teachers en- 
couraged and coached their girls. Each team went 
back to the field with the grim determination to win. 

The forwards put even more energy into their 
playing; but the guards on both sides opposed them 
the more zealously. During the first ten minutes 
each side threw a successful foul, so that the score 
now stood at one all. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


193 


When Marjorie realized that the time was almost 
up, she grew desperate. Giving Frances a new sig- 
nal, which she had agreed to use only in case of the 
greatest necessity, she made a quick dodge away 
from the opposing center, and, at the very edge of 
the line, made a wild throw at the goal. But she 
missed it, and stepped slightly over the line; the 
referee called a foul, and Miss Martin’s girls scored 
a point on the ensuing free throw. The home team 
was ahead. A wild shout arose from the enthusias- 
tic spectators. 

But Marjorie was not to be daunted by one fail- 
ure ; her forwards had proved themselves unable to 
dodge their guards and score; she would try a sec- 
ond time. Accordingly, she gave the same signal 
to Frances again, and, quick as a flash, leapt away 
from her opponent. Keeping her eye on the line 
that she might not overstep it, she made another 
flying shot. The ball sped high over the heads of 
of the girls who rushed to defend the basket; for 
an instant a hush came over the field as all eyes 
watched it describe a graceful arc and fall straight 
through the goal, — a perfect shot. Then the silence 
was broken — not only Miss Allen’s girls; everyone 
on the benches clapped; it was a spectacular play, 
and it brought victory. In less than a minute, the 


194 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


whistle blew; and the score-board registered 3-2, 
in favor of Miss Allen's team. 

Ruth breathed a long sigh, and John wiped the 
perspiration from his forehead. “By George!^' he 
exclaimed, “that was the most exciting game I ever 
saw! Wasn't Marjorie wonderful?" 

At this moment a yell arose for Marjorie, and it 
was then that Ruth realized her mistake in having 
John Hadley asked to attend the game. But it was 
too late now to regret her action. Instead, she dis- 
creetly joined in the other girl’s praises. 

Her party followed the crowd across the campus 
to the gym where tea was being served. John 
looked anxiously for Marjorie, but she had been too 
much exhausted to appear. Everyone was clamoring 
for her — ^the heroine of the day. 

“And they say she isn’t even a Girl Scout 1" Ruth 
heard one of Miss Martin’s girls remark to her com- 
panions. “She’s such a peach, too ! I wonder why 1" 

Ruth frowned. “Yes, everybody else wonders 
why, too!" she thought. “Oh, I'm sick of hearing 
the praises of Marjorie Wilkinson. But I’m even 
with her !" 

Ruth was relieved to hear Miss Martin ask the 
Girl Scouts to give a demonstration ; she stepped for- 
ward proudly, glad of the chance to assume again 
the center of attraction. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


195 


But Ruth was not happy as she rode home that 
evening. Outwardly, her plans had all succeeded; 
but she was not at peace. She knew that she was as 
much of a thief as the common burglar who breaks 
into the house at night and steals the silverware ; she 
had stolen Marjorie's happiness, and she was paying 
for her act — she had lost her own. 


196 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 




CHAPTER XXII 

THE GHOST AT THE CABIN 

Miss Phillips had promised to take the first 
eight girls who qualified as second-class scouts on 
an overnight hike. She had decided to limit the 
number for two reasons — first, because the ground 
was still too damp to risk sleeping out of doors, and 
she had accepted the use of the boys’ cabin; and 
second, because she wanted to reward the more ener- 
getic scouts. 

It was not until the last Friday in May that the 
required number finally qualified, and the Captain 
read the names and announced the hike for the first 
week end in June, which was only two weeks before 
school closed for the term. Besides Ruth, Doris, 
and Helen, who had all passed their test before the 
spring holidays, Dorothy Maxwell, Lucy Graham, 
Ethel Todd, Edith Evans, and Ada Meams were 
finally added to the number. 

Miss Phillips dismissed the other scouts and dic- 
tated a list of articles for the girls to take with 
them. Then she divided the group into pairs, and 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


197 


assigned them their especial duties. Ruth was glad 
to be coupled with Doris, for whom she possessed a 
great admiration. 

“Will we be allowed to go in swimming?” asked 
Ruth, after most of the arrangements had been con- 
cluded. 

“If it is warm enough,” replied the Captain. 
“There is a creek just beyond the cabin, and the 
swimming is good all the way down to the dam — 
where Episcopal Academy is located, you know. So 
you can take your suits if you care to, and then we 
will test the water and see. If it’s as warm as it has 
been this week, I don’t see any reason why you 
shouldn’t — unless, of course, your parents would ob- 
ject to your going in on Sunday.” 

“Do you suppose,” asked Doris a little timidly, 
“that we will see the ghost the boys talk about?” 

Miss Phillips laughed. “Hardly!” she answered. 
“I thought of the possibility of the boys playing some 
sort of trick on you to scare you, so I mentioned the 
matter to Mr. Remington, and he promptly offered 
to take the whole troop over to visit another troop of 
scouts who have the use of a bam in a little town 
just outside of New York.” 

“No, Captain, I meant a real ghost ! Of course I 
don’t believe in them, but ” 

“But if you saw anything at night in the woods,” 


198 THE GIRL SCOUTS 

interrupted Ethel, ‘^yo\x wouldn’t just care about 
being alone?” 

^^Yes,” admitted Doris, *'you know there might 
be something spooky !” 

‘‘I wish something would happen!” exclaimed 
Ruth. “But I guess Captain Phillips killed any 
chance we had of that!” 

Immediately after lunch the following Saturday, 
the girls met with their packs strapped in blanket- 
rolls and swung over their shoulders. 

“Has anybody ever camped out before?” asked 
Miss Phillips as they started on their long hike. 

“About eight of my Sunday School class crowded 
into one little cottage at the seashore,” said Ethel, 
“but that was the nearest I ever came to it.” 

“Of course this won’t exactly be camping, for we 
shall not use tents. But everything else will be the 
same,” said the Captain, after some of the others 
had related experiences similar to Ethel’s. 

Instead of first taking a train and then hiking the 
rest of the distance, the girls decided to hike the en- 
tire way. If they had been obliged to construct a 
lean-to, or even put up tents to sleep under, Miss 
Phillips would not have allowed it; but since the 
cabin was all ready for them, and there was even a 
fireplace to use for cooking, she thought that by this 
time they should be able to do it. And although they 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


199 


were somewhat tired when they finally arrived at 
their destination, no one considered the distance too 
far. 

After each girl had unfastened her pack, and de- 
posited her equipment in the section or comer to 
which she was assigned, Dorothy and Edith began 
to get supper. 

'Who’ll go for water?” asked the latter, holding 
up two pails. 

The girls groaned ; everybody was too tired. But 
in a moment Ruth jumped up. 'T will,” she said 
pleasantly. 

"Thanks awfully,” said Edith, gratefully. "Do 
you want anybody to go with you ?” 

"No; it’s still light; and even if it weren’t, I 
wouldn’t mind meeting Doris’s ghost!” 

Ruth ran out lightly, humming a song as she went. 
It was already twilight, and the gradual deepening 
of the shadows made the trees seem taller, and the 
absolute stillness increased the loneliness of the spot. 
"It is a spooky place,” she thought as she looked 
about her. "I wonder who’ll come down to the 
spring to-night for water?” 

The girls, who in accordance with scout prin- 
ciples, had refrained from eating while they were 
hiking, felt that they were almost starved; nothing 
ever tasted quite so good as the meal their cooks pre- 


200 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


pared for them. They ate hungrily, talking little at 
first; gradually, as their appetites were appeased, 
and their bodies became rested, they became more 
talkative. It was dark when they had finished. 

After the mess-kits had been washed and put 
away, and the food stored in the closet, the girls 
stepped out of the cabin to take a look at their sur- 
roundings. But, unlike the night of the boys’ party, 
there was no moon, and the trees cut off so much 
of the sky that very few stars were in view. Every- 
thing looked black and forbidding. 

Doris shuddered. 'T’m glad Fm not here alone!” 
she whispered, afraid to break the deep silence of 
the woods. ‘Those Boy Scouts must be pretty 
brave.” 

Suddenly a screech sounded from a distant tree. 
The girls started fearfully. “What was it?” asked 
Doris. 

“Only an owl,” replied Miss Phillips, laughing. 

They turned and entered the cabin, feeling that 
the light of the lanterns, though somewhat dim and 
ghostlike, was more reassuring than the darkness. 

“Somebody will have to go for more water,” re- 
marked Edith as the girls were sitting around the 
fire again, toasting marshmallows. “We used what 
we had for the dishes.” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOI. 


201 


‘T’d rather go without a drink all night,” said 
Doris, “than go down to that spring!” 

“How about getting washed ?” asked Ruth. 

“Fd rather go dirty!” 

The girls discussed the proposition for several 
minutes until Miss Phillips interrupted them by 
saying : 

“It is my fault, girls, for not appointing water- 
carriers; but I thought that since the spring is so 
near, it wouldn’t be necessary. So I’ll go myself !” 

“Indeed, you won’t,” declared Ruth; “I’m not 
afraid a bit; I’ll go.” 

“I don’t think you ought to go again, Ruth,” said 
Edith. “It doesn’t seem fair! But so long as you 
have offered. I’ll go with you. Only, I won’t pre- 
tend I’m not afraid. I am!” 

“Then I’ll go alone !” 

“I dare you to !” said Ethel. 

“All right — I’ll take you up! I’ll go down with 
two pails, and when I get back, you do the same!” 

“What is that queer noise?” asked Dorothy sud^ 
denly. “Listen!” 

The girls sat perfectly silent, and a low singing 
and sighing, which at times sank almost to a moan, 
could be heard in the woods close by. 

“Could it be two boughs rubbing each other?” 


202 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


asked Ruth. 'T read about that happening once, and 
scaring some boys out of their wits.” 

‘"No,” replied Miss Phillips, “there would have to 
be wind for that, and it’s perfectly still to-night. It 
sounds to me like some animal in distress.” 

“A wild animal?” asked Doris, fearfully. “Oh, 
let’s bolt the door, Captain !” 

“No, no ; probably a cat or a dog, whining. Let’s 
forget all about it. Suppose we sing a while.” 

The girls did try to put aside all their fears, but 
Ruth and Ethel, although they would not admit it, 
dreaded for the time to come when the party should 
break up. 

But the moment came all too soon. “Nine 
o’clock,” announced Miss Phillips, rising from her 
pillow on the floor. “Time for taps!” 

The girls got up reluctantly and Edith brought 
Ruth her pails. The latter laughed gaily. “And 
now for the great adventure,” she said, as she opened 
the cabin door and stepped out into the darkness. 

She took half a dozen steps, when she suddenly 
heard that weird sound from the direction toward 
which she was approaching. She stopped, breathless, 
and looked all around her. But, seeing nothing, she 
walked on, trying bravely to whistle. 

Just as she was out of sight of the cabin, she saw 
a tall figure glide from one tree to another, and in 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


203 


an instant she heard the sound again. Her heart 
stood still. No mortal being had ever produced a 
sound like that. The boys were right : the spot was 
haunted. 

Ruth felt that, although she could now plainly see 
the spring, she could not go a step farther. She 
looked around again. The figure had vanished, and 
except for the occasional hoot of an owl or the croak 
of a frog, absolute silence prevailed. 'Tt must have 
been my imagination,” she thought. She was nat- 
urally a brave girl, and added to this fact, she longed 
for the admiration of her companions ; so she forced 
herself to press on and fill her buckets at the spring. 

But she had hardly taken another step, before she 
heard the weird sound and saw the figure again. 
This time she saw it distinctly: it was perfectly 
white; even its face had the deathly pallor of the 
ghost. It did not seem to possess eyes, only hollow 
sockets ; and by this Ruth was convinced that it was 
no earthly being. 

By this time the girl was thoroughly frightened; 
she cared no longer for her water, or the approval of 
the other girls ; she thought only of her safe return 
to the cabin. Seeing the figure approach noiselessly 
in her direction, she dropped her pails and ran as 
fast as she could to the cabin. She reached the door 
and flung it open. 


204 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


The girls started forward in alarm. 

‘What is it, Ruth?’' asked Doris, trembling. 

As soon as Ruth could get her breath, she described 
her adventure. Suddenly she stopped. “Listen — 
there !” The sounds became fainter and fainter, and 
finally died in the distance. 

Miss Phillips would not permit Ethel to go to 
the spring by herself ; she and Dorothy both accom- 
panied her. But when they got back, Doris and 
Edith testified that through the one window of the 
cabin, they had seen the figure flit by. 

“The only thing we can do,” said Ruth, the last 
thing before she fell asleep, “is to compare notes 
with the boys who have seen the ghost — or whatever 
it is !” she added. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


205 


CHAPTER XXIII 
ruth’s adventure 

When the sun poured into the cabin the follow- 
ing morning, and Ruth was awakened by the happy 
laughter of her companions, the incident of the night 
before seemed like a dream. If she had been a ner- 
vous or timid girl the others would have had occa- 
sion to attribute her story to an over-wrought imagi- 
nation; but Ruth was the last girl in the world to 
be frightened without a cause. Besides, Doris and 
Edith had testified to the presence of the ghost, and 
everybody — even Miss Phillips had heard the un- 
earthly sound. 

The girls breakfasted out of doors; the day was 
lovely and warm, and they all felt rested and happy. 

''After everything has been put in order,” said 
Miss Phillips, as she finished her coffee, "we are 
going to have a simple little service over in that 
spot under the trees. Then, after that, all of you 
who want to, can go in swimming.” 

The girls prepared to go about their duties. 


206 THE GIRL SCOUTS 

''How shall we know when it is time for service?” 
asked Ethel. 

'T do so wish we had a bugler to blow church- 
call, and all the other calls for that matter, too,” 
said Miss Phillips. "But maybe Pansy troop will 
have one by next year ! In the meanwhile, Pll have 
to use the whistle signals. So listen for a succession 
of short whistles.” 

The religious service held on that Sunday in June 
by the little band of Girl Scouts in the silence of the 
woods was simple in form, but probably out-ranked 
many a more pretentious one in sincerity and earnest- 
ness. Miss Phillips, with her clear voice, led in the 
singing of several familiar hymns, and the girls re- 
cited the first Psalm together. With the exception 
of the Lord’s Prayer, the prayers were silent ones, 
but the girls felt deeply moved ; and after it was all 
over, several of them told the Captain that it was 
the most impressive service they had ever attended. 

Everybody except the Captain, and Ethel and 
Ada, who were cooks, decided to go swimming. It 
was almost noon when they gathered in front of the 
cabin, dressed in their swimming suits, covered by 
sweaters or raincoats. 

"It’s rather late,” said Miss Phillips. "Don’t go 
too far.” 

"What time is dinner?” asked Doris. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


207 


‘‘Half-past one/’ replied Ethel; “and if anybody 
is more than five minutes late, she doesn’t get any !” 

The girls ran off in high spirits. Ruth was the 
first to plunge into the creek. “It is cold,” she ad- 
mitted to Doris, who was sitting on the bank dip- 
■ ping one toe in at a time. 

Ruth began to swim rapidly in order to get warm. 
“I’m going around the bend,” she called as she dis- 
appeared from view. 

The other girls turned their attention to “getting 
wet all over,” and dismissed Ruth from their minds. 
She was undoubtedly the best swimmer of the party, 
so even when she failed to appear after many min- 
utes had passed, no one expressed concern. 

After Ruth had passed the bend, and felt thor- 
oughly warmed by the exercise, she decided to swim 
farther. It would be such fun to go all the way to 
the dam. Of course there was no chance of seeing 
John Hadley or any other of the scouts, since Mr. 
Remington had taken them all on the excursion ; but 
she would have the satisfaction of telling them later 
of her feat. She began to wonder how far the dam 
was. She did not feel in the least tired, for she 
was swimming downstream. It would be an easy 
matter to run along the shore back to the cabin — 
and if she should be late for dinner, Ethel’s admira- 


208 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


tion for her act would surely cause her to pardon the 
delay. 

As she neared the dam, she distinguished two 
figures walking side by side, and she wondered 
whether they would see her; she dipped her head 
into the water, using the crawl stroke, which was 
the most spectacular one she knew. When s'he 
brought her head out a second time, one of the 
figures had vanished; the other person was alone: 
it was a girl. Yes, and she was watching her! 

The persons that Ruth saw, but did not recognize 
because of the distance, were Jack and Marjorie 
Wilkinson. Jack had not gone on the Boy Scout 
outing, for his father and mother, who were visit- 
ing relatives living not far from the Academy, tele- 
graphed to him on Friday that they would get Mar- 
jorie and drive over to his school to spend Sunday 
with him; so he had obtained permission to remain 
there for the week-end, instead of accompanying the 
rest of the scouts. 

Marjorie was delighted at the prospect of the visit. 
She had been looking forward to a dull Sunday ; Lily 
had gone home with Lucy Graham, and most of her 
other friends were at the cabin. She was glad to 
see her parents again, and the day was so lovely 
that she enjoyed every minute of the ride. 

When they arrived at the Academy, Mr. Wilkin- 


[AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


209 


son announced his intention of looking up one of 
the teachers who was an old friend of the family. 
“You can do whatever you like for an hour,” he 
said to Jack and Marjorie; “either come with your 
mother and me, or go off by yourselves.” 

Jack looked at Marjorie doubtfully, as if he had 
no desire to spend a whole hour cooped up with his 
English teacher when it was not necessary. So he 
suggested an alternative to his sister. 

“How would you like to see our swimming-hole?” 
he asked. 

“Fine !” answered Marjorie. “It’s too nice a day 
to be inside. Besides, I’m tired of sitting still.” 

They took the path back of the school which led 
down to the creek, and in less than five minutes they 
reached the dam. 

It was on the upper side of the dam that the 
stream was widest, both banks sweeping out and 
almost meeting again at the waterfall in a horse- 
shoe curve, which gave it the appearance of a lake. 
Trees grew to the water’s edge, their branches mir- 
rored with a gentle shimmering reflection in the quiet 
water along the shore. Farther out, toward the 
middle, the current was swift; it seemed to gather 
force as it rushed foaming over the dam to the rocks 
below. Marjorie went into ecstacies, impressed by 
the beauty of the spot. 


210 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


“I wish I could paint it,” she said. Wouldn’t it 
be lovely?” 

'1 tell you what I will do,” said her brother, after 
he had thought for a minute or two ; ‘T’ll take a pic- 
ture of it !” 

“What with?” 

“My camera’s up in my room, and I’ve got two 
exposures left on the film. If you’ll wait here, I’ll 
run back and get it.” 

As soon as he was gone, Marjorie sat down on a 
stone, and gazed idly into the water. She watched 
the water-bugs gliding over the smooth surface, and 
wondered how deep it was at this spot, and whether 
it was still cold. Jack had told her that the boys had 
already gone swimming here ; but then, boys would 
try anything! 

For a minute she watched the water falling over 
the dam, and noted the swiftness of the current; she 
turned her head in the other direction, and caught a 
glimpse of the swimmer, rapidly approaching her. 
As the latter came nearer, Marjorie identified her as 
a girl by the blue rubber cap she wore on her head. 
When she was only a dozen yards away, but still 
unrecognizable from the fact that her face was 
usually under the water, Marjorie saw her suddenly 
raise an arm and wave in her direction, choke, and 
finally go under. She came up, and went down a 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


211 


second time before Marjorie saw that it was Ruth, 
and realized that she must have been seized with a 
cfamp, and was unable to resist the force of the cur- 
rent. 

The frightened girl cast a wild glance back to- 
ward the school. ‘'Jack, oh, Jack !” she shrieked, as 
loud as she could ; but she got no answer. 

In a panic she turned again toward the water. 
Ruth had come up again, but Marjorie could see by 
her face that she was unconscious. Already, the 
current had carried her several yards further down 
towards the dam. 

There was not a moment to be lost; if Ruth went 
down the third time, it would be too late. Kicking 
off her pumps, she plunged into the water, and struck 
out for her friend. 

Although Marjorie had been swimming in the 
pool almost every day for the past three months, the 
water gave her a shock. It was still much colder 
than that to which she had been accustomed, and 
the weight of her clothes dragged her down. Never- 
theless, with only a few bold strokes, she reached 
the unconscious girl. 

Breathing a sigh of thankfulness for Miss Phil- 
lips’ efficient instruction in life-saving, she took hold 
of Ruth and made for the shore. Her burden seemed 
heavy, but she did not have far to go; in another 


212 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


minute she reached the shallow water, and carried 
Ruth to the shore. 

But her battle was only half over ; she had only a 
vague idea of what to do to revive her. She had 
heard Lily talk about learning the measures of resus- 
citation at one of the scout meetings, but she had not 
gone into detail. “Oh, if I were only a Girl Scout,” 
she groaned, “Ld know what to do I” 

She began to work Ruth’s arms back and forth in 
an aimless fashion, which did not produce results. 
She looked around desperately for her brother, and 
to her great relief, saw him coming along the path. 

“Jack, Jack, hurry!” she screamed wildly. 
“Help!” 

Jack ran as fast as he could, and in a moment 
stood beside her. He did not ask for an explana- 
tion, but knelt over the prostrate girl and set to work 
at once. 

“Hold her tongue out,” he commanded, “to keep 
her from choking while I get the water out of her! 
Now, then, young lady,” he said, addressing the un- 
conscious girl, “we’ll fix you up in no time.” 

He worked tirelessly for ten minutes before he 
was rewarded by seeing Ruth open her eyes. Con- 
sciousness slowly returned, but it was several minutes 
before she realized where she was. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 213 

‘‘Ruth!” said Marjorie tremulously, “are you all 

fightr 

Ruth blinked two or three times, and looked from 
one to the other of her companions. 

“Speak, Ruth!” urged Marjorie. 

“Marj !” said Ruth, with a puzzled air. “Yes, 
I’m all right, but ” 

“Do you think you can sit up, Ruth ?” asked Jack. 
“Then we’ll carry you up to the school.” 

“Yes, I guess so,” she answered; “but what has 
happened ?” 

Jack and Marjorie made a seat with their hands, 
and raised her from the ground. Marjorie ex- 
plained what had just taken place. 

Ruth’s eyes suddenly lighted up. “I remember,” 
she said. ‘'Oh, maybe I wasn’t scared! I guess I 
got a cramp in my leg ! I surely thought I was go- 
ing to die !” 

“It must have been awful!” said Marjorie, with 
feeling. “I was scared to death myself.” 

They carried her to the matron of the infirmary 
who promised to get her dry clothes and give her 
something hot to drink. Jack volunteered to get 
the machine and take the news to the cabin, while 
Marjorie went in search of her parents. 

While Ruth was dressing, she reviewed the whole 
situation in her mind. The experience had been 


214 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


ghastly — if dying was like that, she shuddered at the 
prospect. And yet, she realized that one thing only 
had made it terrible: in that short space of time, 
when she had seemed on the verge of eternity, she 
thought only of her dishonest act toward Marjorie. 
Everything else faded from her consciousness; that 
alone assumed gigantic proportions : it seemed black, 
and terrifying. Even at this moment, when safety 
was assured, she almost cried out at the terror of 
her memory. will confess it all,” she exclaimed, 
'‘before I am a day older !” 

In a few moments Marjorie joined her, and in- 
vited her to go with the family to the hotel for 
dinner. 

'T will if you promise I can have a few minutes 
alone with you afterwards, Marjorie,” she said. 
"Eve got something I must confess!” 

Marjorie smiled, thinking of the crocheting. "All 
right, Ruth, if you like. But come now.” 

When they were all seated in the machine, Ruth 
thanked both of her rescuers profusely. "It certainly 
was brave of you,” she said. 

"Brave of Marj — but not me,” protested Jack. "I 
was scared to death for fear something would hap- 
pen to you, after I played that awful trick on you 
last night !” 

"What trick?” 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


215 


‘‘The ghost at the cabin!” 

“Oh !” gasped Ruth, in a tone that expressed vol- 
umes. “So it was you!” 

Jack explained why he had remained home from 
the excursion. “And I was sort of lonely last night 
— all the other scouts were away, you know; so I 
decided to give you girls a scare. And I did espe- 
cially want to get you, because I knew you never 
were nervous and it wouldn’t upset you like it would 
some girls.” 

“I was scared, all right. But how did you ever 
make that awful noise ? I suppose a sheet was fixed 
up for the disguise?” 

“Yes; and the noise was a violin. I heard Bill 
Mackintosh practicing on his new violin on Satur- 
day night, making the most unearthly sounds you 
ever heard. That put the idea into my head. I went 
over and asked him to go out with me to give the 
Girl Scouts a scare. Of course he was tickled to 
death to go. 

“We slipped away right after supper, and watched 
you through the cabin-window. Maybe I wasn’t 
glad when I saw you were the one to go after the 
water !” 

“You horrid, mean thing!” said Ruth. 

“I admit it. Punish me any way you like !” 

But Ruth could not think of any return for his 


216 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


act. During the rest of the ride, and all through 
dinner, her mind was on her own affairs. Absently, 
she answered the questions that were put to her, and 
entered but occasionally into the conversation. The 
rest of the party attributed her mood to the expe- 
rience through which she had just passed, and left 
her alone with her thoughts. 

They rode all afternoon, so that she had no oppor- 
tunity to be alone with Marjorie; but when the lat- 
ter said that Lily would be away until the next 
morning, she asked to be allowed to visit her right 
after supper. ‘T have something I must tell you 
before I go to bed to-night!’^ she added. 

“All right,” said Marjorie. “But I wish you 
would forget it!” 

“I wish I could,” said Ruth, as she left Marjorie 
to go to her room. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


217 


CHAPTER XXIV 

RESTITUTION 

When Ruth reached her own room, she found 
Ethel already there untying her pack and putting 
away her scout equipment. Ruth explained that she 
had been with the Wilkinsons — that they had 
brought her and Marjorie both back to the school. 

''Now tell me all about the accident,’^ said Ethel. 
“Of course we got the story from Jack, but he wasn’t 
there the whole time so he couldn’t tell us every- 
thing.” 

Ruth went into detail about the adventure, but she 
omitted to describe her own feelings when she 
thought she was drowning. That was too personal, 
and too humiliating; it was bad enough to have to 
tell Marjorie, but she could not bear the thought of 
a public acknowledgment. 

And then, for the first time, she realized some- 
thing of what the consequences of her confession 
would be. It would be only fair to allow Marjorie 
to tell Miss White, Miss Allen, and Miss Phillips, 
so that she might be given another opportunity to 


218 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


join the troop. This would necessitate an explana- 
tion to the other scouts, and they, in turn, would 
undoubtedly tell all the girls in the school. A con- 
fession would doom her to the lasting contempt of 
her companions and her teachers; she would prob- 
ably be put out of the troop and be shunned by her 
former friends. 

Even now it was not too late to change her mind ; 
no one was suspicious. It was true that she had 
hinted of a confession to Marjorie; but she could 
tell her about the crochet, and she would probably 
laugh and forgive her. 

While these thoughts were going through her 
mind, Ethel was talking about the ghost incident, 
and laughing at Jack’s cleverness. ‘'It was funny,” 
she said, “to think that he put one over on you, 
Ruth; for you’re not easily scared. But you were 
scared when you thought you were drowning?” 

“Was I!” exclaimed Ruth. “Dying is a good 
deal worse than I ever thought it would be!” 

“Maybe you had a guilty conscience,” suggested 
Ethel. 

“I guess most people have,” answered Ruth, “un- 
less they’re nuns or ministers, or something like 
that.” 

“Maybe they have, too,” said Ethel, as she left the 


room. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


219 


The conversation brought Ruth back to her di- 
lemma. It recalled to her again, vividly, that dread- 
ful sensation of terror that had overwhelmed her in 
the water. Ethel had said she was never afraid of 
anything! She smiled bitterly. Probably no girl 
in the school had ever been so frightened, so terri- 
fied to the very depths of her soul as she had been. 
But she would not risk a second experience. She 
dreaded the consequences of her confession; but she 
dreaded to a much greater degree, the consequences 
of the omission of that confession. She had made 
up her mind — she would not change it; she would 
tell Marjorie that night ! 

As they were dressing for dinner, she announced 
to Ethel her intention of spending the night with 
Marjorie. *T’ll get Miss Allen’s permission,” she 
added. 

Ethel looked at Ruth suspiciously. ‘‘There must 
be some reason,” she thought, “for this sudden desire 
for Marjorie’s company.” But her suppositions 
were far from the truth : she attributed the attraction 
to the other girl’s brother. 

After supper Ruth gathered her books and her 
toilet articles and started for Marjorie’s room. She 
found two or three other girls visiting her friend, 
and for some time had no chance to talk with her 


220 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


alone. Finally they all left. Ruth opened her book ; 
but she could not study. 

“You know I said I had something to tell you, 
Marj,” she said slowly, with her eyes fastened to 
the pattern of the rug. “IFs a confession!” 

Marjorie drew down the corners of her mouth, 
in her effort to keep from smiling. The incident of 
the crochet had seemed big at the time, but now it 
appeared as only a trifle. “Maybe I know already,” 
she suggested. 

“About your filet, you mean ?” 

“Yes — Miss Phillips gave it away at that surprise 
party.” 

“I thought so ; she never guessed, of course. But 
I knew youM put two and two together, Marj.” 

“Well, I don’t mind, Ruth. I was mad at the time, 
but after all it didn’t hurt me. And you’d have been 
a second-class scout soon anyhow.” 

“Perhaps,” said Ruth. “You’ve been too good to 
me, Marj. But wait till you hear the rest!” 

“The rest?” 

“Yes; that isn’t nearly all. I’m a real criminal. 
Oh, Marj, if you hadn’t saved me to-day, and I’d 
died, what would have become of me?” 

Ruth suddenly burst into tears. She had been 
under too great a strain in the last twenty-four 
hours, and she lost control of herself completely. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


221 


After all, she was only fifteen — and the role of crimi- 
nal was new to her. Aside from the little white lies 
that most of us tell sometimes, she had up to this 
time been upright in character. 

Marjorie jumped up and put her arms around her. 
She forgot about the Ruth she had known during 
the past year ; she saw only her old playmate, as she 
used to cry when she was hurt. 

^'What is it, Ruth?” she asked with concern. ‘Ts 
there anything I can do to help you?” 

But Ruth pushed her aside, and wiped her eyes. 
‘'Sit down, Marj,” she said, as calmly as she could, 
‘T don’t deserve your sympathy. Listen!” 

Marjorie sat opposite her, and Ruth told her story. 
She told it exactly as it had happened, omitting none 
of the details, and making no effort to excuse her 
motive. She called herself names — she was a 
traitor, a thief, and a liar. She deserved no mercy; 
she wanted none. Marjorie could do whatever she 
wanted with her ; but now she could die with a clear 
conscience. 

Marjorie listened in amazement. The story 
seemed too dreadful to be true; and yet, the facts 
linked together and explained all her former doubts. 
Suddenly the realization of what she had missed 
came over her — the party at the cabin, the overnight 
hike, the play rehearsals, and all the good times; 


222 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


the fellowship with Miss Phillips, and Doris, and 
the rest of her friends, and the opportunity to be with 
John Hadley — four months of happiness that she 
had lost. She had been cheated out of her rights; 
she felt bitter; she could not forgive Ruth. She 
turned to her sharply. 

But before she could utter a word, a knock 
sounded at the door. It was Miss Phillips. 

‘^Come in,” said Marjorie, as naturally as she 
could. Ruth stood up as the teacher entered, but she 
could not bear to salute. 

‘‘I just wanted to see whether Lily is back yet,” 
said Miss Phillips. 

am sorry; but she isn’t. Miss Phillips. But 
won’t you sit down?” 

‘‘Only for a minute. I wanted to tell Lily — and 
I’ll take this chance to tell you, Ruth — that the 
scouts decided to-day to give up next Saturday to 
doing a good turn for somebody else. So I have 
Miss Allen’s permission to invite the twenty-four 
little orphans from the Mynfield Home for an out- 
ing.” 

“How lovely,” said Marjorie, absently. 

“Poor children ; they don’t have much pleasure in 
their lives,” continued Miss Phillips, not noticing 
the girls’ preoccupation. “So when Frances sug- 
gested giving them a party next Saturday, I jumped 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


223 


at the idea. It’s our last Saturday together — except 
for the one of the play — but the girls want to use it 
for their troop good turn.” 

Miss Phillips stayed for a few minutes and told 
the girls more about the little orphans. And when 
she rose to go, they had almost forgotten, for the 
time, their own tragedy. 

Neither girl said anything for several minutes 
after Miss Phillips had gone. Marjorie sat down at 
her desk and started to write ; Ruth turned the pages 
of her book, but she did not look at the contents. 

'"What are you going to do about it, Marj ?” she 
asked. 

^'Nothing,” replied Marjorie, indifferently. 

Ruth’s hopes rose, but she shook her head. ‘T 
can’t allow that,” she said. '‘You ought to be a Girl 
Scout.” 

"But most of the good times are over now.” 

"Not this summer’s camping trip. And if we tell 
Miss Phillips the reason, she’ll probably let you take 
the second-class test with the others next Friday 
night.” 

Marjorie’s face brightened. It was the dream of 
her heart to become a Girl Scout! But then she 
thought of the disgrace this would necessitate bring- 
ing upon Ruth. Miss White and Miss Phillips 
would both have to know the story — and perhaps 


224 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


even Miss Allen and some of the sco^\^s. j^d 

not treated her as a scout should tree,! anyoi^v^ 4et 
alone a former friend; but that would not exc.,;se 
Marjorie, if she disregarded the other girhs feelings. 
She thought of the scout slogan that Miss Phillips 
had just been speaking about — '"Do a good turn 
daily/^ “And if I start my career as a Girl Scout 
by disregarding that law, it would be to begin all 
wrong. Better stay out of the troop forever,^* she 
reflected. 

“Pm not going to do a thing, Ruth,” she said 
aloud. “It would be too hard on you !” 

Ruth jumped up with characteristic impulsiveness. 
“Pm going straight to Miss White this very min- 
ute,” she said, “and lay the whole thing before her. 
Then Pll do whatever she advises.” 

Before she could protest, Ruth was gone. Mar- 
jorie turned to her writing, but she could think of 
nothing but the present complication. She felt sorry 
for Ruth, but she could not help hoping that Miss 
White would insist upon a confession. 

She pictured herself in the Girl Scout uniform, 
marching along with the other girls, helping them 
with the play, and accompanying them on their 
camping trip ; she thought of the pleasure of telling 
her father and mother and Jack, — yes, and John 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


325 


r final triumph. Miss Phillips, too, 
uinely glad of her good fortune. 

She waited impatiently for Ruth to return. She 
got up and straightened the room, took out some 
crocheting, put it down, and finally sat down on 
the couch to dream of the fulfillment of her cher- 
ished hope. 

In about fifteen minutes, Ruth came back, accom- 
panied by Miss White. The older woman looked 
sad as she took Marjorie’s hand, and spoke softly. 

'T am so sorry, my dear, that this had to hap- 
pen: that Ruth was tempted and fell, and you had 
to suffer. But she has done right to confess.” 

''Oh, Miss White, I didn’t want her to tell any- 
body else.” 

"Yes, I know; she told me how noble you have 
been about it. But you have some rights, Marjorie. 
I shall tell Miss Allen to-morrow that there has been 
a mistake, and ask her permission to give you a spe- 
cial examination.” 

"Tell her the truth!” exclaimed Ruth. "It isn’t 
fair for you to take the blame. Miss White.” 

"I will tell her if she asks. Marjorie, can you 
come to my room at three to-morrow afternoon?” 

"Certainly,” replied Marjorie. 

Miss White opened the door. "Leave the matter 


226 TSE girl scouts 

in my hands, girls, and don’t worry about it any 
more.” 

After she had gone, the girls went to bed, but 
said nothing more about the thing that was upper- 
most in their thoughts. It was Miss Allen and her 
attitude toward the matter that caused the most con- 
jecture in the minds of both girls as they laid their 
heads upon their pillows that night. 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


227 


CHAPTER XXV 

THE VERDICT 

‘'And what makes you think you made a mistake 
in Marjorie Wilkinson’s paper?” asked Miss Allen, 
after Miss White had requested for permission to 
give the girl a second test. ‘‘You aren’t in the habit 
of doing your work carelessly.” 

“Well — ^mother was ill, you know; and Marjorie’s 
subsequent work has been so good, that I felt there 
must be some explanation.” 

Miss Allen shut her lips tightly. “I am sorry to 
refuse to grant your request. Miss White,” she 
said, “but if I allowed a second test for no more 
reason than you suggest, it would establish a prece- 
dent: every girl who fails in any examination will 
demand another opportunity. The final examina- 
tions are less than two weeks off ; Marjorie will have 
the chance to show her ability in them.” 

“I see your point of view. Miss Allen,” said Miss 
White. “I had hoped you would grant my request 
without further explanation; but, as you say, it 


228 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


would not be right, for such an insignificant reason. 
So I will tell you the whole story.’’ 

She repeated to the Principal the facts of Ruth’s 
confession ; she told how cleverly the girl had spoiled 
the paper ; she recalled the fact that the papers had 
been marked at home, destroyed, and the averages 
mailed to the school. Everything, indeed, had 
seemed to play into Ruth’s hands in order to help her 
to escape detection. 

Miss Allen listened with increasing anger as the 
narrative progressed. The whole thing was incon- 
ceivable — a disgrace to her school. ‘'Ruth Henry 
must be expelled at once!” she declared emphatic- 
ally. 

“No, no,” pleaded Miss White. “Remember that 
she confessed it herself ; if someone had told on her, 
it would be different. Suppose we send for her — 
and for Miss Phillips, too, since it is a matter which 
so intimately concerns the scouts.” 

Ruth and her Captain entered the office together. 
In a few words. Miss Allen reviewed the situation 
to Miss Phillips, while Ruth sat motionless, with 
downcast eyes. 

“I am of the opinion,” said Miss Allen coldly, 
“that a girl who would do such a contemptible trick 
as that should be expelled from the school.” 

Ruth started ; that was one calamity she had not 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 229 

thought of. Then her mother and father would 
know — ^yes, and all the people at home. 

But Miss White and Miss Phillips both pleaded 
in her behalf. She had done wrong, they said; but 
it was her first offense, and she had confessed. Such 
a punishment would be too severe. 

'Then at least she must be put out of the troop! 
She has not acted like a Girl Scout; she should not 
be permitted to wear the uniform.” 

Ruth rose, white to the lips. “I am ready to re- 
sign, Captain Phillips,” she said unsteadily. ‘T did 
not expect to be allowed to remain.” 

Miss Phillips put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. 

"Wait, Ruth,” she said quietly; "we must think 
everything over carefully.” Then turning to Miss 
Allen, she said, "It isn’t fair to torture Ruth in this 
fashion; suppose we let her go out, and talk the 
matter over, and then give her our decision.” 

Tears came to Ruth’s eyes, but she looked grate- 
fully at Miss Phillips. "Oh, thank you,” she stam- 
mered ; "I’ll do whatever you say.” 

"You may go, Ruth,” said Miss Allen. 

The teachers talked for a long time over the af- 
fair, but finally Miss Phillips triumphed. Ruth’s 
case was to be put up to the Girl Scouts, while she 
remained away from the meeting; they were to de- 
cide whether or not she was to stay in the troop. 


230 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


And each scout was to pledge “on her honor as a 
Girl Scout’’ never to mention the matter outside. 

That afternoon Marjorie took her Latin test, and 
passed with flying colors ; as soon as she learned of 
her success, she went straight to Miss Phillips. 

“I will give you the Tenderfoot test to-night, if 
you wish,” said the Captain. “Then, if you are pre- 
pared, I will waive the usual custom, and you may 
take the second-class test on Friday with the eight 
girls who have not yet passed it.” 

Lily was wild over the good news. Of course, 
Marjorie said nothing about the cause of her incor- 
rect mark; she simply stated that Miss White had 
given her a second chance, and that Miss Phillips 
had arranged a special scout test. 

“And I am to be taken in on Friday,” she said, 
hugging her room-mate joyfully. “Think of it, Lil, 
a Girl Scout at last !” 

Every girl in the troop was genuinely glad to 
welcome Marjorie into their ranks. She had waited 
so long for her happiness; she trembled now lest 
something should happen to destroy it. She made a 
supreme effort to calm herself sufficiently to take 
the second-class test. 

But before the candidates were given their pa- 
pers, Miss Phillips announced that she had a matter 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 231 

of serious importance to bring to their considera- 
tion. 

“It concerns one of your sister scouts,” she said. 

The girls looked questioningly from one to an- 
other. Ruth, only, was missing; but no one had 
thought an)rthing of that after her adventure on 
Sunday; they all attributed her absence to the cold 
she had contracted. Several of the girls thought of 
Marjorie; her entrance into the troop had been out 
of the usual order of things; perhaps Miss Phillips 
meant her. 

The Captain, however, hastened to tell the story 
as impersonally as she could. Consternation seized 
the group; they listened breathlessly. 

“And now it is for you. Girl Scouts of Pansy 
Troop, to decide what must be done with Ruth 
Henry. Shall we expel her from the troop? I 
would like to hear some arguments on both sides of 
the question.” 

Ethel, who probably disliked Ruth more intensely 
than any other girl in the troop, and who had origi- 
nally been the cause of her failing to make the soror- 
ity, spoke against her. The girl had broken the first 
law of the scouts; she was a menace to the welfare 
of the troop; the sooner they got rid of her, the 
better. 

Before the speech was finished, Marjorie rose to 


232 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


her defense. *T have known Ruth a long time/^ she 
said, “and I think I understand her. She is dread- 
fully ambitious — always has been — but girls, I think 
she has learned her lesson. And I have forgiven 
her — so can’t you do it, too? Oh, please let her 
stay in the troop ! Honestly, she’s suffered an awful 
lot already !” 

Frances also spoke in her behalf. When the vote 
was finally taken, the Ayes carried it, twelve to four. 
Miss Phillips promised to take the news to Ruth; 
the scouts pledged on their honor to drop the inci- 
dent from their minds. 

All the candidates who took the second-class test 
that night passed with honor, but Marjorie’s mark 
was highest of them all. 

“Be up early to-morrow morning to get ready for 
our orphans,” said Miss Phillips, as the troop sepa- 
rated ; “we want to make them the happiest girls in 
the world.” 

“We couldn’t do that,” said Marjorie to Lily ; “be- 
cause I’m the very happiest! Oh, Lil, I’m really 
going camping this summer!’^ 


!AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


233 


CHAPTER XXVI 

THE PLAY 

‘‘Good-bye! good-bye!” shouted the twenty-four 
happy little girls, leaning out of the windows and 
waving their handkerchiefs, as the train pulled out 
of the station the following afternoon. The scouts 
watched it until it was out of sight ; then they turned 
towards the school. 

Marjorie took Doris’s arm. ‘T never had such a 
good time in my life before,” she said. “Oh, didn’t 
they enjoy themselves, though! And wasn’t that 
tiny little one cute?” 

Before they had taken many steps, they met Doro- 
thy Maxwell, coming from the school. 

“Where is Miss Phillips?” she asked, with con- 
cern. 

“Back with Lily, I think,” answered Marjorie. 
“But what is the matter, Dot? You look as if 
something dreadful has happened!” 

“Well, it has ! Helen’s pretty badly hurt !” 

“Helen Stewart? When she fell off the swing?” 


234 . 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


‘‘Yes ; I guess her ankle's sprained, at least ; maybe 
it's something even worse!" 

By this time Miss Phillips and the rest of the 
scouts had reached the spot where the girls had 
stopped, and they all crowded around, asking ques- 
tions. 

“I will go to her at once,” said Miss Phillips, hur- 
rying off with Dorothy. 

The girls resumed walking. “Suppose she can't 
take part in the play," suggested Ethel. “She's lead- 
ing lady, you know 1" 

“I think that is what Miss Phillips thought of first, 
but of course she wouldn’t say anything," said Ruth. 

“Nobody else could ever take her place at this late 
date," said Doris; “besides, we all have our own 
parts. What would we do ?" 

“Oh, maybe she'll be all right by then," said Mar- 
jorie. “Don't let's worry till we hear what the doc- 
tor says." 

But the doctor's diagnosis proved worse than any 
of their fears. Helen was suffering from a compli- 
cated fracture; it would be necessary for her to be 
taken home on a stretcher and kept flat on her back 
for several weeks ; any participation in the play was, 
of course, out of the question. 

Miss Phillips called a special meeting of the scouts 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


235 


that night. She was more disturbed than the girls 
had ever seen her. 

'Tt’s all my fault,” she said, ‘Tor not having ap- 
pointed an understudy. Why was I so thoughtless?” 

“Couldn’t you take the part yourself. Captain?” 
suggested Ethel. “You must pretty nearly know it 
already !” 

“I do ; but I’m too tall. And I wouldn’t mind that 
if it were to be given just for our own school. But 
think of the outsiders who will be here ! With com- 
mencement in the morning. Miss Allen says almost 
all the visitors are planning to stay over for the 
play. And Miss Martin’s whole school are coming 
especially to see it !” She covered her eyes with her 
hands, and uttered a long sigh. 

“Captain,” said Ruth, suddenly, “I have the solu- 
tion! Let Marjorie take it! She’s splendid at dra- 
matics.” 

Miss Phillips raised her head quickly. Marjorie 
blushed as all eyes were turned upon her. 

“Will you do it?” asked Miss Phillips. 

“I can try.” 

Miss Phillips’ face expressed blissful relief : she 
could rely upon Marjorie, who always did things 
well ; she need worry no longer. 

All that week, Marjorie studied and rehearsed. 
When the dress-rehearsal came, on Friday evening. 


236 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


the girls praised her performance; but she herself 
was not satisfied: she realized that her acting was 
stilted, and Miss Phillips was forced to agree with 
her when she asked for her opinion. 

‘'But it^s all right, Marjorie,’’ the Captain added ; 
“you can’t expect to do as well as Helen could, after 
she had practiced it for weeks.” 

But Marjorie did expect to do as well as Helen, 
and she made up her mind to surpass her. She put 
the play aside from her thoughts, played a game of 
cribbage with Lily, and went to bed early. 

Miss Phillips had planned to give the play in the 
outdoor theater if the day were fine. When Mar- 
jorie opened her eyes that morning and saw the 
bright sunlight, it was naturally the first thing she 
thought of. It would be so much prettier to have a 
background of real trees; and she felt that with 
such perfect surroundings she could do greater jus- 
tice to the part. 

Soon after breakfast, visitors began to arrive. 
The Wilkinsons did not especially care to attend the 
commencement exercises, but promised to get Jack, 
and drive over in the machine in time to see the play. 
Ruth’s father and mother were coming by train. 

The programs had already been printed with 
Helen Stewart’s name as leading lady, and Marjorie 
had not told her family of her part in the play. It 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


23T 


was enough for them to know that she was at last a 
Girl Scout ; and she did not wish to have them dis- 
appointed if her acting did not equal their expecta- 
tions. 

Marjorie accompanied Ruth to meet the train on 
which her father and mother would arrive. They 
passed groups of visitors at frequent intervals on 
the path, and they saw the seniors, in their white 
dresses, many of them carrying American Beauty 
roses, here and there on the campus. Off under the 
trees, near the library, was the out-door auditorium ; 
they distinguished Miss Phillips, directing the work- 
men in the final decoration of the stage. 

Marjorie was not nearly so nervous as she had 
been the day before. Everything had turned out so 
well that she felt that she must succeed now; the 
weather, the gayety of the occasion, and her own 
calmness reassured her. 

‘‘So you're a Girl Scout at last !" said Mrs. Henry 
to Marjorie, as they walked from the train. Her 
tone was a trifle condescending, as if to call atten- 
tion to the fact that she had just attained a distinc- 
tion which her own daughter had long since gained. 
Ruth noticed it and hastened to dispel her feeling. 

“You might say Marj is the Girl Scout !" she ex- 
claimed. “She's leading lady in the play this after- 
noon !" 


238 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


“Really! Your father and mother didn’t tell 
me. 

“They don’t know it yet,” said Marjorie. “It’s 
to be a surprise !” 

“They have a surprise for you, too, if I’m not mis- 
taken,” said Mrs. Henry mysteriously. 

Marjorie’s curiosity was aroused, but she did not 
have long to wait. In less than an hour, the Wilkin- 
sons’ machine drove up to the school. Marjorie 
rushed down the stairs to meet it. And she had not 
one, but two surprises. John Hadley sat on the front 
seat beside Jack; in his arms he held a huge box 
which he handed shyly to Marjorie. 

“I may not be on hand when you graduate,” he 
said, “so I brought you some roses to wear to-day.” 

Blushingly, she thanked him, and opened the box. 
“I will wear one this afternoon,” she thought, but 
said nothing about the play; she wanted to reserve 
her surprise till later. She hunted Ruth, and Mr. 
and Mrs. Henry, and the party went in to luncheon 
together. 

Both girls excused themselves soon afterwards to 
see whether they could help Miss Phillips. Jack and 
John hunted seats for the older people, and they 
watched the crowd gather. 

Mrs. Wilkinson glanced at the names on the pro- 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 


239 


gram. see Ruth is in the play,” she said, address- 
ing Mrs. Henry. 

“Yes,” replied the latter, remembering Marjorie’s 
desire to keep the knowledge of her participation 
from her parents. 

Jack was impatient for the play to begin; but he 
did not conceal the fact that his interest was cen- 
tered in Ruth. His enthusiasm, however, failed td 
find a response in John, who hoped that since Mar- 
jorie was not in the play, she might come and sit 
with them. For some minutes he tried to save a seat 
beside him, but as the theater became more crowded, 
he abandoned the idea. 

Finally, the school orchestra began to play, and 
soon after that the play commenced. There was no 
curtain; the characters entered from behind the plat- 
form. 

When Mrs. Wilkinson saw Marjorie, she ex- 
claimed aloud, “Look, Sam ! Can that be our Mar- 
jorie ?” 

John also leaned forward intently. Mrs. Henry 
watched him, smiling. 

“By George, it is!” cried Jack. “And she looks 
ripping, too I” 

Marjorie did more than look “ripping,” as her 
brother expressed it. The culmination of events, the 
recent successes, the gratification of her dearest 


240 


THE GIRL SCOUTS 


wishes, and the excitement of the moment, so inspired 
her that she entered, for the time, into the peculiar 
state of mental detachment which actors sometimes 
experience. From the instant she came upon the 
stage until the end, she ceased to exist as Marjorie 
Wilkinson, so completely did she enter into the spirit 
of Everygirl ; and yet, subconsciously, she seemed to 
realize that this was to be the final, crowning achieve- 
ment. Strangers exclaimed at her ability, and the 
whole audience again and again applauded the talent 
she displayed in her acting. Once more Marjorie 
was the heroine of the day ; but, unlike the time of 
the basket-ball game, Ruth was not jealous. It was 
she who had suggested her for the part, and she re- 
joiced in her triumph. The old friendship was re- 
vived with a new meaning ; Ruth had profited by her 
experiences. 

After the play was over, and everyone had con- 
gratulated Marjorie, Jack turned to Mrs. Henry 
and asked whether Ruth might not be allowed to 
ride home in their machine. 

‘If she wants to,” agreed Mrs. Henry. And it 
was plain to be seen from the girl's expression that 
she needed no second invitation. 

The girls changed into their suits, and came out 
again. The baggage had been sent by train. Miss 


AT MISS ALLEN’S SCHOOL 241 

Phillips, Doris, and Lily accompanied them to the 
machine. 

“A month from to-day!^’ said Miss Phillips, as she 
kissed the girls good-bye. ‘‘I’ll write you the de- 
tails.” 

Marjorie leaned back in the machine and smiled 
dreamily ; she was very happy. She had been made 
a Girl Scout; she was now going home for vaca- 
tion — with Jack, and John Hadley, and Ruth to help 
her to enjoy it; and the week of camping during 
the following month loomed bright in anticipation. 

“Remember going away last fall, Marj?” asked 
Ruth, interrupting her reverie. “It has all turned out 
different from what we expected, hasn’t it?” 

“Different, and better 1” said Marjorie, with a deep 
sigh of contentment. 

How the Troop spent their vacation will be told 
in the next volume of this series, “The Girl Scouts. 
AT Camp.” 


THE END 


I 


i; 0 5 





.S 

» 


} ' 


• J 


I 


f 


4 



















V 


^ ° 'V 

\^v * aV <p 3 

-A 

'V ^ ' ,*s^ . V 1 « ^ ° " " .-^‘^''\c » j;; "■ « 


. c^ -i 

, A 




'-a:- y '^'AVv\§^ , 

y <1 

O ^ a I ^ \^' '■-^ ^ 0 isi 0 ^ ^ ^ 

V * n H I \ \' , ^ J N ^ K. 

^ «L * O 

^ ° ''</> .<^ 

z: ^ 


^^/yy, 2 y 





o^ - 0 ^ ,<■'-'"« 


^ % . 

✓ 

a. O 0^ 

* 4 -7* 

‘ ■>' 8 1 A ■" \^ S » <> / S 0 



#■ . . „ 

,v\^ O S . %!'^^‘’ 

4 A ^ , C '4* 




^ ^‘8 0’" 



c^ c 


^ a» \V </> 

V^l'^z -'^^ " 

' ' " « ’^< 3 :.^ " ’ " ^ 0 ti 0 

O !;► 






^ f.^. <x ^ 

kS^WW .'j^ /. > 


■i? ^ 



1V 


A' 


C- s' - ^ 

' 4' 

, V? 


-? 

'f‘ 'i, a\ s 

^ > : 2 ^, 

=. ^ 0 =?.. 

, ' '^vs^ « 0 ^ 

X, "> o> ^ ^ 0 /■ " ’ 

- ^ ; V . 


\V‘ 

vV 


00 >> ^p 

vL^ ■'■ ® 

' r^ ^ * ^0 


•) s ^ 



t <i * 

^ ^ ''z ^ ^ 

r -..,,, A^ * < 1 '^ ‘V A) <?V 

- •<• ^ ,* , y 

z z >j>^ A’ ■'/'6?%^^" -z 

.A O. '''/ . c'- <1^ ^0 ,*.'*' A 

^ 

' “l l^ 

O 


® ^ a\ . 0 N c . 

.'i> ^ 

V o 

<t 


lO o 




Cj 




ff 1 A 




0 






•>, ■■ '/--i^i.^' ••' V':--:«k-''^'” ' ' 

; '’■* >■* r'^'-. -= 0 * .- 1 ^'- "'i 

V - ^ <^y/i\hW s£^ 



>P^yc: 


y ^ ^ r\0 O 

•>- 'V ^ 

^ ^ *» *S. 



^ \s 


co'’ , 

<e ^ ^ ^ 5. 

- % c,'^ - " 

■V tP, 


'' -N c^ V VA^a 

' 0 ^ . . ' r- *^ ,/,.■» ,\ ■' ■'■^3 



-f, .-v 


•>' V 
O 0 ^ 


/'.s.. , ^7ff'\<^' 

^v. -Sl&fe ^ '^. .V. 


^ „ <r s '' 4 O 0 ^ y. 

y . <“ i^/if//^-y -6 

< < 
' k 




\ 


Oc 


^ VJ *> 

* \ ^ * 

^ \ ^ ^ -v 1 


v^^''^- V 

\' ,i> 



0 ^ C /. •- 

c ^ , O 



^ c:^ ^ a %7/W^ “ .v^ 

A -,V^ ■^‘ • 

.,fi < 1 ^ v\ 

" ' i> ^ 

Jl^{{f//y^ ^ 

^ * i. »- i\i/yy yr ^ ^ 

« 

* 

•V 

.V, 





o 
<1 

^ \ S ^ A ^ - ^ ^ ^ -/> ^ H \ -\^ \ V 

V "" C‘ 

■. ^ U A. ^ 

£\M/}h o y 

z: A 2 4-* 










